Digital image storage system and digital image storage

ABSTRACT

A digital image storage system includes a digital camera having a memory capable of storing digital images and an adapter on which the digital camera is to be laid down for informing the adapter of the digital images in the memory. The digital image storage system further includes a data storage having a storage medium that stores the digital images informed through the adapter. The data storage includes a function unit that controls the digital image storage so that the informed digital images are stored in a predetermined folder prepared in the storage medium.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/576,221, filed on May 22, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a digital image storage systemand a digital image storage, and more particularly to a digital imagestorage system and a digital image storage capable of being informed ofdigital images from a digital camera.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] In this field of art, various types of image storage have beenproposed for storing images taken by digital cameras.

[0006] For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 8-69684has proposed to transmit images to an image storage from a camera whenthe camera is coupled to the image storage.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,335 has proposed a docking adapter fortransferring stored images from an electronic still camera to a hostcomputer.

[0008] However, there have been problems and disadvantages still left inthe related arts. For example, the related arts have not proposed indetail the storage control of the informed digital images.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0009] In order to overcome the problems and disadvantages, theinvention provides a digital image storage system including a digitalcamera having a memory capable of storing digital images and an adapteron which the digital camera is to be laid down for informing the adapterof the digital images in the memory. The digital image storage systemfurther includes a data storage having a storage medium that stores thedigital images informed through the adapter. The data storage includes afunction unit that controls the digital image storage so that theinformed digital images are stored in a predetermined folder prepared inthe storage medium.

[0010] According to the another feature of the invention, a digitalimage storage system includes a digital camera having a memory capableof storing digital images and an adapter on which the digital camera isto be laid down for informing the adapter of the digital images in thememory. The digital image storage system further includes a data storagehaving a storage medium that stores the digital images informed throughthe adapter. The data storage includes a function unit designed toautomatically prepare a folder in the storage medium in advance of thedigital image storage and to store the informed digital images in theprepared folder.

[0011] According to still another feature of the invention, a digitalimage storage capable of being informed of digital images from a digitalcamera through an adapter on which the digital camera is to be laid downincludes a storage medium that stores the digital images informedthrough the adapter and a function unit that carries out a program tostore the informed digital images in a predetermined folder prepared inthe storage medium.

[0012] According to further feature of the invention, a digital imagestorage capable of being informed of digital images from a digitalcamera through an adapter on which the digital camera is to be laid downincludes a storage medium that stores the digital images informedthrough the adapter and a function unit that carries out a program toautomatically prepare a folder in the storage medium in advance of thedigital image storage and to store the informed digital images in theprepared folder.

[0013] Other features and advantages according to the invention will bereadily understood from the detailed description of the preferredembodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of the system of FirstEmbodiment.

[0015]FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic diagram of the systemconfiguration of First Embodiment.

[0016]FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram of an image storage.

[0017]FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram of a docking station.

[0018]FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram of a digital camera.

[0019]FIG. 6 is an exemplary first flowchart illustrating the operationof the image storage.

[0020]FIG. 7 is an exemplary second flowchart illustrating the operationof the image storage.

[0021]FIG. 8 is an exemplary first flowchart illustrating the manner ofcontrolling signal transmission.

[0022]FIG. 9 is an exemplary second flowchart illustrating the manner ofcontrolling signal transmission.

[0023]FIG. 10 is an exemplary third flowchart illustrating the manner ofcontrolling signal transmission.

[0024]FIG. 11 shows an example of folder made in the memory of the imagestorage.

[0025]FIG. 12 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating disconnectioninterruption.

[0026]FIG. 13 is an exemplary first flowchart illustrating the manner ofcontrolling signal transmission that is different from FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

[0027]FIG. 14 is an exemplary second flowchart illustrating the mannerof controlling signal transmission that is different from FIGS. 7, 8 and9.

[0028]FIG. 15 is an exemplary second flowchart illustrating the mannerof controlling signal transmission that is different from FIGS. 7, 8 and9.

[0029]FIG. 16 shows an exemplary remote controller used in FirstEmbodiment.

[0030]FIG. 17 is an exemplary flowchart showing the basic operation of amain body.

[0031]FIG. 18 is an exemplary basic flowchart showing operation in thealbum mode of First Embodiment.

[0032]FIG. 19 is an exemplary flowchart showing image acquisitioninterruption of First Embodiment.

[0033]FIG. 20 is an exemplary flowchart showing detailed operation inthe album mode of First Embodiment.

[0034]FIG. 21 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation ofadvancing the image of First Embodiment.

[0035]FIG. 22 is an example of display on the monitor that illustratesthe operation of changing the hierarchy of First Embodiment.

[0036]FIG. 23 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation ofhierarchy change.

[0037]FIG. 24 is an exemplary flowchart showing the selection in theoperation of hierarchy change.

[0038]FIG. 25 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation ofmy-album mode.

[0039]FIG. 26 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation ofretrieval.

[0040]FIG. 27 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation ofprinting.

[0041]FIG. 28 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation oftermination of the album mode of First Embodiment.

[0042]FIG. 29 is an exemplary perspective view of the system SecondEmbodiment.

[0043]FIG. 30 is an exemplary schematic diagram of the systemconfiguration of Second Embodiment.

[0044]FIG. 31 shows an exemplary remote controller used in SecondEmbodiment.

[0045]FIG. 32 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of modeselection processing in Second Embodiment.

[0046]FIG. 33 is an example of display on the monitor of SecondEmbodiment.

[0047]FIG. 34 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of thealbum mode of Second Embodiment.

[0048]FIG. 35 is an example of schedule display on the monitor oninformation on all folders in Second Embodiment.

[0049]FIG. 36 is an example of thumbnail images displayed on the monitorof Second Embodiment.

[0050]FIG. 37 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of thesearch condition setting process of Second Embodiment.

[0051]FIG. 38 is an example of the search condition setting menudisplayed on the monitor of Second Embodiment.

[0052]FIG. 39 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the operation ofsearching the title of the album of Second Embodiment.

[0053]FIG. 40 is an example of the page of the list of album titlesdisplayed on the monitor of Second Embodiment.

[0054]FIG. 41 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of savingand entering the search conditions of Second Embodiment.

[0055]FIG. 42 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation ofentering the search condition option item of Second Embodiment.

[0056]FIG. 43 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of printmode process of Second Embodiment.

[0057]FIG. 44 is an exemplary print mode process menu displayed on themonitor of Second Embodiment.

[0058]FIG. 45 is an exemplary print condition menu displayed on themonitor of Second Embodiment.

[0059]FIG. 46 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation oftelevision mode process of Second Embodiment.

[0060]FIG. 47 is an example of the display of a print output of SecondEmbodiment.

[0061]FIG. 48 is an exemplary perspective view of the system design ofThird Embodiment.

[0062]FIG. 49 is an exemplary schematic diagram of system configurationof Third Embodiment.

[0063]FIG. 50 is an exemplary perspective view of the system of FourthEmbodiment.

[0064]FIG. 51 is an exemplary diagram showing the configuration of theprinter of Fifth Embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] First Embodiment.

[0066] (1) System Design.

[0067] An exemplary perspective view and schematic diagram of the systemdesign for First Embodiment are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.

[0068] According to the television set in First Embodiment, a monitor 2consisting of the plasma display panel, for example, is separated from amain body 1. The main body 1 is connected to the monitor 2 by a cable 1a for transmitting the audio and image signal from the former to thelatter. The main body 1 is operated by means of a remote controller 3.The main body 1 and the monitor 2 are provided with the common powersource by way of cables 1 b and 2 a, respectively.

[0069] An image storage 4 is connected to the main body 1 through acable 4 a for transmitting control signal from the main body 1 to theimage storage 4, and further through a cable 4 b for transmitting theaudio and image signal from the image storage 4 to the main body 1 at AVinput thereof. The image storage 4 includes a large capacity memory suchas a hard disc for storing large number of digital image date with theiridentification data. The image storage is provided with the common powersource by way of a cable 4 c, and further connected to a printer 9through a cable.

[0070] The remote controller 3 for usually controlling the ordinarytelevision watching function in the television mode is switched into analbum mode when a later mentioned album mode button is pressed. In thealbum mode, the main body 1 responsive to the operation of the remotecontroller 3 controls the image storage 4 to transmit image signalordered by the remote controller 3 for the display of the image on themonitor 2.

[0071] A docking station 5 has a mounting portion for a digital stillcamera (hereinafter referred to as a digital camera) 6. The mountingportion is provided with a power supply connector 5 f and a signalconnector 5 d, which are automatically made in contact withcorresponding connectors of the digital camera 6 when it is mounted onthe mounting portion of the docking station 5. The docking station 5includes an AC adapter 5 e, which is fed with the common power sourcethrough a cable 5 a and has an output connected to power connector 5 f.An IEEE 1394 connector 5 c of the docking station 5 is directlyconnected to the image storage 4. Thus, the docking station 5 is of asimple design consisting of the mounting portion for the digital camera,the signal connector 5 d, the IEEE 1394 connector 5 c, power connector 5f, and the AC adapter 5 e, and is dedicated to the digital camera 6 of aspecific type. On the contrary, the image storage 4 is of a common usetype interchangeably connected to any docking station dedicated to oneof various types of digital cameras by means of standardizing the shapeof the connector for a cable 5 b.

[0072] In operation, in automatic response to the mounting of thedigital camera 6 on the docking station 5, the data transmission isinitially triggered to automatically transmit the entire digital imagesignal in the digital camera to the image storage 4 through the cable 4b. If the completion of the automatic transmission without error isconfirmed, all contents of memory in the digital camera is automaticallydeleted, when the LED 5 k is energized to inform the emptiness of thememory. On the completion of the data transmission, the power chargingis automatically triggered, and automatically terminated on itscompletion, when the LED 5 m is energized to inform the completion ofthe power charging. If a user merely mounts the digital camera 6 on thedocking station 5 and lets it be, accordingly, the data transmission andthe power charging will be completed to prepare for instant use of thedigital camera 6 when it will be get back from the docking station 5. Ongetting back the digital camera 6, LED's 5 k and 5 m should beconfirmed. If the power will be found to be naturally discharged whilethe digital camera 6 is left on the docking station 5, the power isautomatically recharged, which will be repeated.

[0073]FIG. 2 represents an exemplary schematic diagram of the systemdesign for First Embodiment, in which the cable 1 a connects an AVconnector 1 c of the main body 1 to an AV connector 2 b of the monitor2. In the ordinary television mode, the main body 1 transmits signalgenerated from a TV circuit 1 d including tuner to the AV connector 1 cby way of an AV output controller 1 e. A receiver 1 f receives infraredsignal from an emitter 3 a of the remote controller 3 to transmit thereceived information to a CPU 1 h through a decoder 1 g. In thetelevision mode, the necessary change in channel or volume is carriedout by the TV circuit 1 d in response to the operation at the remotecontroller 3.

[0074] When the CPU 1 h detects a mode change from the television modeto the album mode in response to a signal form decoder 1 g caused by amode changing operation at the remote controller 3, the AV outputcontroller 1 e is made to transmit a signal from an AV connector 1 i tothe AV connector 1 c in place of the signal from the TV circuit 1 d.Further, in the album mode, the CPU responsive to the signal of thedecoder 1 g transmits control signal from an IEEE 1394 connector 1 j toan IEEE 1394 connector 4 d of the image storage 4 through the cable 4 adesigned according to the IEEE 1394 standard. Thus, the control of theimage storage 4 by means of the remote controller 3 for the televisionset is made possible. For example, if the next still image is requestedat the remote controller 3, the request is transmitted through thereceiver 1 f, the decoder 1 g, the TV circuit 1 h, the IEEE 1394connector 1 j and the cable 4 a to the IEEE 1394 connector 4 d of theimage storage 4. Then, a CPU 4 e connected to the IEEE 1394 connector 4d identifies the request to read out the next image from a memory 4 fsuch as a hard disc. The read image is transmitted through an NTSC(National Television System Committee) encoder 4 g, an AV connector 4 hand the cable 4 b to the AV connector 1 i.

[0075] Cable 5 e designed according to the IEEE 1394 standard isconnected between an IEEE 1394 connector 4 i of the image storage 4 andthe IEEE 1394 connector 5 c of the docking station 5. Within the dockingstation 5, the IEEE 1394 connector 5 c directly leads to the signalconnector 5 d, which is of a specific mechanical shape dedicated to thedigital camera 6 although electrically designed under the IEEE 1394standard. The output of the AC adapter 5 e fed with the common powersource is connected to the power supply connector 5 f. The signalconnector 5 d and the power supply connector 5 f are formed as a singleconnector unit, while a signal connector 6 a and a power supplyconnector 6 c of the digital camera 6 are correspondingly formed as asingle connector unit. When the digital camera 6 is mounted on thedocking station 5, accordingly, the signal connector 6 a of the digitalcamera 6 is made in contact with the signal connector 5 d of the dockingstation 5, while the power supply connector 6 c connected to arechargeable battery 6 b of the digital camera 6 is made in contact withthe power supply connector 5 f of the docking station 5. Thus, the imagesignal of the digital camera 6 is transmitted to the TV circuit 4 e ofthe image storage 4 by way of the signal connector 6 a, the signalconnector 5 d, the IEEE 1394 connector 5 c, the cable 5 b and the IEEE1394 connector 4 i, and the rechargeable battery 6 b is charged by theAC adapter 5 e.

[0076] In the television set in First Embodiment, the monitor 2 isseparated from the main body 1. According to the present invention,however, such a modification is possible that the main body 1 and themonitor 2 are combined within a single housing as in an ordinarytelevision set.

[0077] Further, in the television set in First Embodiment, the imagestorage 4 transmits the AV signal formed by the NTSC encoder 4 g to themain body 1 at the AV connector. According to the present invention,however, such a modification is possible that the digital image signalwithout the encoding is received by the main body 1 at the IEEE 1394connector 1 j, the digital image signal being encoded into AV signal bythe TV circuit 1 d within the main body 1.

[0078] Such a modification is also possible that the signal from theimage storage 4 is directly transmitted to the monitor 2 at its AVconnector, instead of transmitting the signal by way of the main body 1.

[0079] According to the present invention, the monitor 2 has an IEEE1394 interface and the IEEE 1394 connector (not shown). To such amonitor, the digital image signal may be transmitted to monitor 2 at theIEEE 1394 connector.

[0080] (2) Designs of Parts and Functions.

[0081] The description will be advanced to individual designs for theparts, such as the image storage, the docking station and the digitalcamera in the system of the present invention, and to the functionsthereof.

[0082]FIG. 3 represents an exemplary block diagram showing the design ofthe image storage 4 of First Embodiment. The following devices form theimage storage 4 of First Embodiment according to the present invention.The CPU 4 e controls devices in the image storage 4 and carries out thefunctions in the later explained flow charts in FIGS. 6 to 8 incooperation with a CPU 6 h of the digital camera 6. The CPU 4 e has ROMfor storing data such as image data. A card slot 4 s is for readingimage or audio signal from the card memories, such as COMPACT FLASH,SMART MEDIA and MEMORY STICK, which are the names of products from SanDisc of the United States, Toshiba of Japan and Sony of Japan,respectively. A card driver 4 p is for driving the card slot 4 s inresponse to the direction of the CPU 4 e. The memory 4 f is ofnon-volatility and large capacity, such as a hard disc, which alsostores the program to be carried by the CPU 4 e.

[0083] Alternatively, the memory 4 f of built-in type in the embodimentabove may be replaced by a removable type such as a DVD.

[0084] A memory driver 4 n is for driving the memory 4 f in response tothe direction of the CPU 4 e.

[0085] An MPEG(Moving Picture Expert Group) decoder 4 k is for expandingthe motion picture data compressed in accordance with MPEG system forplaying the motion picture. A JPEG(Joint Photographic Expert Group)decoder 4 t is for expanding the still image data compressed inaccordance with JPEG system for playing the still image. A frame memory4 m is a non-volatile semiconductor memory for temporally storing theimage or audio signal. The frame memory 4 m is used in transmitting theimage or audio signal from the digital camera 6, and also in outputtingthe image data to the main body 1 of the television set or to theprinter 9. A switch circuit 4 q is for detecting the operation ofswitches provided in the image storage 4 to inform the CPU 4 e of it.Power circuit 4 r is connected to the common power source (not shown)for providing each device in the image storage 4 with the electricpower.

[0086] An IEEE 1394 interface 4 j is for communicating control signalsand image audio signals with various IEEE 1394 interfaces located in themain body 1 of the television set, the digital camera 6 (the dockingstation 5) and the printer 9, and for receiving a signal from the remotecontroller 3 of the television set to inform the CPU 4 e of it. The IEEE1394 connectors 4 i and 4 d is for the connection with cables whichconnect to various IEEE 1394 interfaces located in the main body 1 ofthe television set, the digital camera 6 (the docking station 5) and theprinter 9. The NTSC encoder 4 g is for converting the digital imagesignal into the television signal of NTSC system, on which thetelevision set without the IEEE 1394 interface is able to play theimage. The connector 4 h outputs the television signal encoded by TheNTSC encoder 4.

[0087]FIG. 4 represents an exemplary block diagram showing the design ofthe docking station 5 of First Embodiment. The docking station 5 ofFirst Embodiment is described with help of FIG. 4. The AC adapter 5 econnected with commercial power source, which is not shown in thefigure, is a power source in order to supply the digital camera 6mounted on the docking station 5 with electric power, and is also usedfor charging the rechargeable battery 6 b of the digital camera 6.

[0088] A DSC connector 5 j is a kind of connector connected with a DSCconnector 6 n arranged in the digital camera 6 and corresponds to thesignal connector 5 d and the power supply connector 5 f shown in FIG. 2.The DSC connector 5 j is electrically connected with the AC adapter 5 eand the IEEE 1394 connector 5 c. Signal transmission and power supply tothe digital camera 6 are made through the DSC connector 5 j. The signalconnector 5 d is a terminal for giving and receiving a signal inconformity with the IEEE 1394 standard. The DSC connector 5 j has aspecific mechanical shape dedicated to the digital camera 6 and also hasa terminal electrically connected with an AV connector 5 g, which wasnot mentioned in FIG. 2.

[0089] The AV connector 5 g is for outputting the TV signal encoded withthe NTSC standard by the digital camera 6. Although no explanation hasbeen made in the First Embodiment, by means of connecting the AVconnector 5 c with an AV connector of another instrument, a TV signalencoded in the digital camera 6 can be watched by the instrument havingno IEEE 1394 interface.

[0090] The IEEE 1394 connector 5 c is a connector connected with thecable 5 b, which is connected with IEEE 1394 interfaces equipped in theimage storage 4. In explanation of the First Embodiment, only the casethat the IEEE 1394 connector 5 c is connected with the IEEE 1394connector 4 i of the image storage 4 is mentioned. However, when themain body 1 or the printer 9 can handle image or audio signal stored inthe digital camera 6, the image or audio files can be replayed orprinted without help of the image storage 4 by means of connecting theIEEE 1394 connector 5 c with the IEEE 1394 interface equipped in themain body 1 or the printer 9.

[0091] An LED 5 i has an LED 5 k for memory and an LED 5 m forrecharging. The LED 5 i indicates the state of a card memory stored inthe digital camera 6 and the state of the rechargeable battery by itslighting condition. An LED driver 5 h controls lighting of the LED 5 iin accordance with a command from the CPU 6 h of the digital camera 6 orthe CPU 4 e of the image storage 4.

[0092]FIG. 5 represents an exemplary block diagram showing the design ofthe digital camera 6. The digital camera 6 of the First Embodiment isdescribed with help of the FIG. 5. Although, we omitted the explanationof picture taking and image processing, it is needless to say that thesystem includes photographic lens, image detector, image processingcircuit, and the like. The CPU 6 h controls each device in the digitalcamera 6 and performs the procedure shown in FIG. 26 mentioned later incooperation with the CPU 4 e of the image storage 4.

[0093] A switch circuit 6 f detects whether a release button 6 r or acommand dial 6 s equipped in the digital camera 6 is handled or not, andtransmits it to the CPU 6 h.

[0094] An IEEE 1394 interface 6 e is the device for giving and receivingcontrol signal, image or audio signal through the IEEE 1394 interfacestored in the main body 1, the image storage 4, or the printer 9.

[0095] An IEEE 1394 connector 6 d is a kind of connector for giving andreceiving signal with other instruments having the IEEE 1394 interfaceand is used for giving and receiving signal with the image storage 4without help of the docking station 5, not mentioned in the FirstEmbodiment. When the main body 1 or the printer 9 can handle image oraudio signal in the digital camera 6, the image or audio files can bereplayed or printed without help of the image storage 4 by means ofconnecting with the IEEE 1394 interface equipped in the main body 1 orthe printer 9.

[0096] An AV connector 6 m is a connector through which converted NTSCtelevision signals are output outside. By connecting the AV connector 6m to another AV connector, television signals, which are converted inthe digital camera 6, are observable even on devices without the IEEEinterface.

[0097] The DSC connector 6 n, through which power and signals aretransferred, is connected to the DSC connector 5 j. The DSC connector 6n includes the signal connectors, the power supply connectors, and AVterminals, as well as the DSC connector 5 j. Through the signalconnectors, signals designed according to the IEEE standard aretransferred. The DSC connector 6 n has a structure only for connectingto the docking station 5.

[0098] The rechargeable battery 6 b, which supplies power to each deviceof the digital camera 6, is recharged through the AC adapter 5 e of thedocking station 5. A card slot 6 i records image signals and audiosignals onto the card memory (e.g., Compact Flash, Smart Media, MemoryStick) which is mounted to the card slot 6 i, and reads out imagesignals and audio signals from the card memory.

[0099] A card driver 6 j drives the card slot 6 i under instruction fromCPU 6 h. The image storage 4 and the digital camera 6 can be powered onunder signal input from outside, in the case that imaging storing device4 is not powered.

[0100] (a) Recharging an Taking in Images Flow.

[0101]FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are exemplary flowcharts illustrating programsexecuted by the CPU 4 e of the image storage 4. Referring to FIG. 6,program starts when the image storage 4 detects that the digital camera6 is connected to the docking station 5. The image storage 4 can alwayscommunicate with the docking station 5 through the IEEE 1394 connector 4i, the cable 5 b, and the IEEE 1394 connector 5 c, because the imagestorage 4 is always in the state of standing by, passing low currentbetween the docking station 5 and the image storage 4. Therefore, whenthe digital camera 6 is connected to the docking station 5. The imagestorage 4 can detect the connection between camera 6 and the dockingstation 5.

[0102] Alternatively, the above mentioned detection through theconnection between camera 6 and the docking station 5 may be replaced bya detection by means of a combination of a mechanical contact and asensor.

[0103] In step S151, function necessary to receive image signals andaudio signals from the digital camera 6 is activated. More specifically,the main power is turned on, the memory 4 f which records image signalsand audio signals is driven, and a receiving program is activated.

[0104] In step S152, the AC adapter 5 e of the docking station 5 isoperated through the cable 5 a, power is supplied to the digital camera6, and the main power source of the digital camera 6 is switched on. Inthe case that the main power source of the digital camera 6 is alreadyswitched on, the main power source continues to be on.

[0105] The above embodiment may be modified to an alternative embodimentin which the CPU 4 e does not transmit the signal to the digital camera6 for turning on the same if the camera 6 has already be turned on.

[0106] In step S153, it is detected whether the digital camera 6 hasimage files or audio files that are reproducible by the image storage 4.If the digital camera 6 has them, program proceeds to step S154. If thedigital camera 6 does not have them, program proceeds to step S161 inFIG. 7. The image storage 4 is already set so that JPEG file, MPEG file,GIF file, bitmap file, and WAVE file can be reproduced. Although somedigital camera has a proprietary format image, such proprietary image isreproduced only by dedicated software. Furthermore, card memoriesmounted to the digital camera 6 may be used for other devices,therefore, other files except for image files or audio files, e.g.,document files, may be mounted to the digital camera 6. However, theimage storage 4 is designed so that the image storage 4 does not receivefiles which can not be reproduced by the image storage 4.

[0107] By installing a dedicated software in the image storage 4,however, the files that were not handleable with the image storage 4become handleable with the device. The files that have thus becomehandleable through the installation of the software will now beautomatically received by the device upon the installation.

[0108] If, provided the card memory is loadable to the digital-camera 6,the camera is not loaded with a card the memory, it is naturallyinterpreted that no file exists. If the camera is not loaded with a cardthe memory, the digital camera 6 is controlled so that the LCD 6 q ofthe digital-camera 6 presents an alarm display that reports to a userthat no card-memory exists. Further, if there exists an unhandleablefile, the digital camera 6 is controlled so that the LCD 6 q of thedigital-camera 6 presents an alarm display that reports to a user thatthere exists an unhandleable file.

[0109] At the step S154, a folder to which a name, e.g., date, isattached, is created in a common folder in the memory 4 f. The folder isnamed, e.g., “990401-990402” so that it specifies the initial and lastdate when the image or audio signal was recorded. The date informationis taken from the date information recorded in the header of the imageor audio file. The common folder is a folder which is pre-created in thememory 4 f and to which files are transferred from the digital camera 6.The files named “Family”, “Father”, “Mother”, and “Taro” are alsopre-created in a common folder of the image storage 4.

[0110] At the step S155, by blinking the memory indicator LED 5 k in thedocking station 5, a user is informed that a file is being transferred.

[0111] At the step S156, the image or audio files from the digitalcamera 6 are received in photographing or sound recording order, andstored in the “990401-990402” folder in the memory 4 f. Referring toFIG. 8, the way to control signal detection at this step is described indetail below.

[0112] At the step S157, such a display as shown in FIG. 11 is presentedwith the LCD 6 q of the digital camera 6, and a users is asked in whatfolder the file is to be stored. The display presents choosable folderspresent in the common folder. By revolving the command dial 6 s, afolder is chosen, and, by pressing the release button 6 r, the folderchosen is indicated.

[0113] At the step S158, whether or not a folder has been chosen isdetected. If detected, then the step 160 is followed; if not detected,the step 159 is followed.

[0114] At the step S159, whether or not a pre-determined time has passedfrom the beginning of the inquiry into what folder is to be chosen isdetected. If the predetermined time has passed, the step 161 isfollowed; if not, the step 157 is recommenced and the inquiry into whatfolder is to be chosen is resumed.

[0115] At the step S160, the folder “990401-990402” in the common folderis, wholly and without change of its folder structure, transferred tothe designated (chosen) folder.

[0116] At the step S161, whether or not the card memory loaded in thedigital camera 6 is written is detected. If unwritten, the step S162 isfollowed; if written, the step S163 is followed.

[0117] At the step S162, by lighting the memory indicator LED 5 k in thedocking station 5, a user is informed that the card memory loaded in thedigital camera 6 is unwritten.

[0118] At the step S163, by lighting out the memory indicator LED 5 k inthe docking station 5, a user is informed that the card memory loaded inthe digital camera 6 is written.

[0119] At the step S164, the main power supply with the digital camera 6is switched off. Even when the main power supply with the digital camera6 had been switched on at the point of connection, the main power supplyof the digital camera 6 is switched off at this step.

[0120] At the step S165, whether or not the rechargeable battery 6 b isloaded in the digital camera 6 is detected. If loaded, the step 166 isfollowed; if the loaded thing is not the rechargeable battery 6 b or therechargeable battery 6 b is not loaded, the step 170 is followed.

[0121] In step S166, the charging to the rechargeable battery 6 b of thedigital camera 6 is started. In step S167, charging the indication LED(light emitting diode) 5 m is intermittently energized to inform theuser of the status of the rechargeable battery 6 b in the process ofcharging.

[0122] In step S168, it is checked whether the charging is completed ornot. If the completion of charging is detected, the flow is advanced tostep S169. On the other hand, the flow returns to step S166 to continuethe charging. In step S169, charging the indication LED 5 m iscontinuously energized to inform the user of the completion of thecharging to the rechargeable battery 6 b. In step S170, the power supplyto the docking station 5 is terminated. In step S171, the main powerswitch of the image storage 4 is turned off to close the present flow.

[0123] (b) Transmission of Signals.

[0124] FIGS. 8 to 10 explain the manner of controlling signaltransmission in step S156 in FIG. 6.

[0125] In step S101, disconnection interruption is enabled, theinterruption being carried out when the digital camera 6 will bedisconnected from the docking station 5. In step S102, it is checkedwhether or not the digital camera 6 directs to stop the datatransmission, the direction being caused by operating the release buttonof the digital camera 6. If the date transmission is directed to stop,the flow goes to step S110 in FIG. 9. On the other hand, the flow isadvanced to step S103 if the date transmission is not directed to stop.

[0126] In step S103, the digital camera 6 is checked for a folder(hierarchical) structure that holds files not transmitted yet. If filesnot transmitted yet are held in a folder structure, the flow is advancedto step S104. On the other hand, the flow is advanced to step S106 iffiles not transmitted yet are held without any folder structure.

[0127] In step S104, it is checked whether the folder structure hasalready existed in the image storage 4. If the folder structure hasexisted, the flow is advanced to step S106. On the other hand, the flowis advanced to step S105 if the folder structure has not existed yet.

[0128] In step S105, a new folder is further created within the folder“990401-990402” which has been created in step S154 in FIG. 6. In stepS106, the digital camera 6 is directed to transmit new files, which arereceived and stored in the folder created in steps S154 and 105.

[0129] Thus, the folder structure holding files in the digital camera 6will be took over by the image storage 4 without destruction of theoriginal folder structure, which is convenient for the user to searchfor the stored files.

[0130] Further, in step S106, the digital camera 6 is directed to informthe user of the status in the process of data transmission by means ofLCD 6 q of the digital camera 6.

[0131] In step S107, it is checked whether the data transmission fromthe digital camera 6 to the image storage 4 is completed or not. If thecompletion of data transmission is detected, the flow is advanced tostep S108. On the other hand, the flow returns to step S106 to continuethe data transmission if the completion of data transmission is notdetected.

[0132] In step S108, the digital camera 6 is directed to add to theheader of the transmitted file therein the information indicating thatthe transmission of the file has been completed. In steps S121 and S122in FIG. 10, the file will be deleted from the digital camera 6 independence on the added information. The flow is to be advanced fromstep S108 to step S109.

[0133] In step S109, it is checked whether files capable to be treatedby the image storage 4 still remain to be transmitted in the digitalcamera 6. If files remain to be transmitted, the flow is returned tostep S102. On the other hand, the flow is advanced to step S116 if nofile remains to be transmitted.

[0134] If the direction to stop the data transmission is detected in theabove mentioned step S102, a question at LCD 6 q of the digital camera 6as in FIG. 11 is made in step S110 to ask the user whether or not thetransmission of all the files including already transmitted files shouldbe cancelled.

[0135] Step S111 checks the answer of the user to the question in stepS110 for “No”. If the answer, “No” is detected, the flow goes to stepS116. On the other hand, the flow is advanced to step S112 if theanswer, “No” is not detected. The answer, “No” of the user means thatthe already transmitted files should not be cancelled.

[0136] Step S112 checks the answer of the user to the question in stepS110 for “Yes”. If the answer, “Yes” is detected, the flow goes to stepS114. On the other hand, the flow is advanced to step S113 if theanswer, “Yes” is not detected. The answer, “Yes” of the user means thatthe user mounts the digital camera 6 on the docking station 5 for thepurpose of only charging the camera without data transmission. Foranswering the question, the use is to select “Yes” or “No” by rotatingthe command dial 6 s and press release button 6 r to enter the selectedanswer.

[0137] In step S114, the files and folder transmitted this time, andalso the folder, “990401-990402” created this time are all deleted fromthe memory 4 f of the image storage 4.

[0138] In step S115, the digital camera 6 is directed to cancel theinformation which has been add to the header of the transmitted file toindicate that the transmission of the file has been completed.

[0139] In step S113, it is checked whether a predetermined time haspassed or not after the direction to stop the data transmission. If thetime has not passed yet, the flow is returned to step S110 to wait forthe answer. If the time has passed, on the other hand, the flow isadvanced to step S114 on the assumption that the direction to stop thedata transmission at step S102 was made because user mounts digitalcamera 6 on the docking station 5 for the purpose of only charging thecamera without data transmission.

[0140] In step S116, it is checked whether a protected file istransmitted or not. If a protected file is transmitted, the flow isadvanced to step S117, while the flow is advanced to step S122 if aprotected file is not transmitted. The digital camera 6 has a“protection” function of file management for preventing a protected filefrom being deleted out of the memory card in error. Ordinarily, aprotected file cannot be deleted unless the protection function iscancelled.

[0141] In step S117, a question is indicated at LCD 6 q as in FIG. 11 toask whether the protected file is to be deleted. Step S118 checks theanswer of the user to the question in step S117 for “No”. If the answer,“No” is detected, the flow goes to step S122. On the other hand, theflow is advanced to step S119 if the answer, “No” is not detected.

[0142] Step S119 checks the answer of the user to the question in stepS117 for “Yes”. If the answer, “Yes” is detected, the flow goes to stepS121. On the other hand, the flow is advanced to step S120 if theanswer, “Yes” is not detected.

[0143] In step S120, it is checked whether a predetermined time haspassed or not after the question is started to be indicated at LCD 6 qto ask whether the protected file is to be deleted. If the time has notpassed yet, the flow is returned to step S117 to wait for the answer. Ifthe time has passed, on the other hand, the flow is advanced to stepS121. In this design, a protected file in the digital camera 6 which hasbeen successfully transmitted to the image storage 4 is to be deletedunless an answer is especially made to the contrary, for always makinguse of the maximum capacity of the memory card in the digital camera 6.

[0144] In step S121, all the already transmitted files are deleted fromthe digital camera 6 in response to the information add in step S108 tothe header of the transmitted file. In step S122, files that have beenalready transmitted and are not protected are deleted from the digitalcamera 6 in response to the information add in step S108 to the headerof the transmitted file and also to the protection information. In stepS123, the disconnection interruption is disabled to close the presentflow.

[0145] (c) Disconnection During Data Transmission.

[0146]FIG. 12 explains the disconnection interruption. This flow startsin response to disconnecting the digital camera 6 from the dockingstation S with the disconnection interruption enabled.

[0147] In step S181, warning of disconnection without completing thedata transmission is made at the display on the digital camera 6 forrecommending the user to mount the camera again. Step S182 checkswhether such a file exists in the memory 4 f that the transmissionthereof is unfinished by reason of the disconnection in the course ofthe data transmission. If such a file exists, the flow is advanced tostep S183, while the flow goes to step S184 if such a file does notexist.

[0148] In step S183, the file in the memory 4 f that the transmissionthereof is unfinished is removed. Step S184 checks whether the digitalcamera 6 is mounted again on the docking station 5 for the connection.If the connection is detected, the flow is advanced to step S187, whilethe flow goes to step S185 if the connection is not detected.

[0149] Step S187 checks whether the digital camera mounted again is thesame digital camera 6 or not. In the case of the same digital camera 6,the flow is advanced to step S109 in FIG. 8, while the flow goes to stepS152 in FIG. 6 in the case of a different digital camera.

[0150] In step S185, it is checked whether a predetermined time haspassed or not after the disconnection. If the time has passed, the flowis advanced to step S186, while the flow returns to step S184 if thetime has not passed yet. In step S186, the main power switch of theimage storage 4 is turned off to close the present flow.

[0151] In the above mentioned First Embodiment, all the correctlytransmitted files are deleted from the digital camera 6 at once aftercompleting the transmission of all of them. However, such a modificationis possible that each file is deleted after completing the transmissionof it one by one. Further, the file is actually deleted from the digitalcamera in First Embodiment. However, it is possible to merely addinformation of permitting the deletion to the header of the file to bedeleted in place of actually deleting the file, in the case of a digitalcamera capable of overwriting a new file on the file to be deleted.

[0152] Such a modification is further possible that the main body 1 oftelevision set is designed to be capable of detecting the mounting ofthe digital camera 6, in place of the detection by the image storage 4in First Embodiment.

[0153] The functions of flow charts, which is carried out by the CPU 4 ein the image storage 4 according to the above mentioned embodiment, canbe alternatively carried out by the CPU 1 h in the main body 1 of thetelevision set.

[0154] (d) Modification of the Function on Disconnection During DataTransmission.

[0155] The CPU 6 h in the digital camera 6 can alternatively carry outthe functions of flow chart shown in FIG. 8 on the disconnection duringdata transmission. FIG. 13 explains this modification in which the CPU 6h in the digital camera 6 carries out the functions.

[0156] In step S501, the disconnection interruption is enabled, theinterruption being carried out when the digital camera 6 will bedisconnected from the docking station 5. The disconnection interruptioncan be understood in accordance with FIG. 12.

[0157] In step S502, it is checked whether or not the digital camera 6directs to stop the data transmission, the direction being caused byoperating the release button of the digital camera 6. If the datetransmission is directed to stop, the flow goes to step S510. On theother hand, the flow is advanced to step S503 if the date transmissionis not directed to stop.

[0158] In the step S503, it is checked whether the structure of thefolder in which such a file is stored that the transmission thereof isunfinished has hierarchical structure or not. If the folder hashierarchical structure, the flow is advanced to the step S504, otherwisethe flow is advanced to the step S506.

[0159] In the step S504, it is checked whether the folder found in thestep S503 has already existed in the image storage 4 or not. If thefolder has existed, the flow is advanced to the step S506, otherwise theflow is advanced to the step 5505.

[0160] In the step S505, an order is given to the image storage 4 that anew folder is to be made inside of the folder “990401-990402” made inthe step S154 shown in the FIG. 6, which exists in the memory 4 f of theimage storage 4.

[0161] In the step S506, it is ordered that the file that thetransmission thereof is unfinished is transmitted to the image storage4, and is stored in the folder made in the steps S154 and S505.Therefore, when the file is stored in the hierarchical folder of thedigital camera 6, it is convenient to rearrange the file because therecording onto the image storage 4 does not affect the structure of thefolder. Further, in the step S506, the digital camera 6 is directed toinform the user of the status in the process of data transmission bymeans of LCD 6 q of the digital camera 6.

[0162] In the step S507, it is checked whether the transmission of thefile to the image storage 4 has been completed or not. If thetransmission has been completed, the flow is advanced to the step S508,otherwise the flow is advanced to the step S506 for continuing thetransmission. When the transmission has been completed, it is devisedsuch that the image storage 4 transmits the completion signal to thedigital camera 6.

[0163] In the step S508, the information indicating the completion ofthe transmission is added to the header portion of the file inside ofthe digital camera 6. In the steps S521 or S522 shown in the FIG. 15,the file is deleted in accordance with the added information. Then, theflow is advanced to the step S509.

[0164] In the step S509, it is checked whether a transmission-unfinishedfile being able to be handled by the image storage 4 is still existed inthe digital camera 6 or not. If a transmission-unfinished file isexisted, the flow is returned to the step S502, otherwise the flow isadvanced to the step S516.

[0165] In the step S510, a query whether all the transmission of filesincluding transmission-completed files should be cancelled is providedfor the user on the LCD 6 q of the digital camera 6 shown in FIG. 11.

[0166] In the step S511, it is checked whether “no” is detected as theanswer of the query provided in the step S510. If “no” is detected, theflow is advanced to the step S516, otherwise the flow is advanced to thestep S512. In the case “no files should be left as it is.

[0167] In the step S512, it is checked whether “yes” is detected as theanswer of the query provided in the step S510. If “yes” is detected, theflow is advanced to the step S514, otherwise is advanced to the stepS513. In the case “yes” is detected, it is understood that the digitalcamera 6 is mounted on the docking station 5 in order to rechargebattery.

[0168] In the step S514, it is ordered that the file and the foldertransmitted this time, together with the folder “990401-990402” shouldbe deleted from the memory 4 f of the image storage 4.

[0169] In the step S515, the information indicating the completion ofthe transmission added to the header portion of the file inside of thedigital camera 6 is lifted.

[0170] In the step S513, it is checked whether a predetermined time haspassed or not after the direction to stop the data transmission. If thetime has not passed yet, the flow is returned to the step S510 to waitfor the answer. If the time has passed, on the other hand, the flow isadvanced to the step S514 on the assumption that the direction to stopthe data transmission at the step S502 was made because user mounts thedigital camera 6 on the docking station 5 only for recharging the camerawithout data transmission.

[0171] In the step S516, it is checked whether a protected file istransmitted or not. If a protected file is transmitted, the flow isadvanced to the step S517, while the flow is advanced to the step S522if a protected file is not transmitted. The digital camera 6 has a“protection” function of file management for preventing a protected filefrom being deleted out of the memory card in error. Ordinarily, aprotected file cannot be deleted unless the protection function iscancelled.

[0172] In the step S517, a question is indicated at the LCD 6 q as inFIG. 11 to ask whether the protected file is to be deleted.

[0173] In the step S518, it is checked whether the answer of thequestion in the step S517 is “Yes”. If the answer “Yes” is detected, theflow is advanced to the step S522. If the answer “Yes” is not detected,on the other hand, the flow is advanced to the step S519.

[0174] In the step S519, it is checked whether the answer of thequestion in the step S517 is “No”. If the answer “No” is detected, theflow is advanced to the step S521. If the answer “No” is not detected,on the other hand, the flow is advanced to the step S520.

[0175] In the step S520, it is checked whether a predetermined time haspassed or not after the question is started to be indicated at the LCD 6q to ask whether the protected file is to be deleted. If the time hasnot passed yet, the flow is returned to the step S517 to wait for theanswer. If the time has passed, on the other hand, the flow is advancedto the step S521. In this design, a protected file in the digital camera6 is not to be deleted unless an answer is especially made to thecontrary.

[0176] In the step S521, the files that have been already transmittedand are not protected are deleted from the digital camera 6 in responseto the information added in the step S508 to the header of thetransmitted file and also to the protection information.

[0177] In the step S522, all the already transmitted files are deletedfrom the digital camera 6 in response to the information added in thestep S508 to the header of the transmitted file. In the step S523, thedisconnection interruption is disabled to close the present flow.

[0178] (3) Operation of the Image Storage.

[0179] Operation of the image storage 4 performed by the remotecontroller 3 is explained specifically. FIG. 16 illustrates the remotecontroller 3 in detail. When the main body 1 is on standby afterreceiving a very small current, the main power of the main body 1 isturned on by pressing a power source bottom 3 a of remote controller 3.

[0180]FIG. 17 is an exemplary flow chart showing the basic operation ofthe main body 1 after main power is turned on. When the main power isturned on in step S1, the main body 1 always starts up in the televisionmode in step S2. Even if the main power of the main body 1 is turned offin the last mode, as described later, by turning on the main poweragain, the main body 1 can start up in the television mode. Thetelevision mode is a mode in which the television set receives ordinarytelevision broadcasting. Step S3 enables interruption by means of modechange operation, which switches a mode to another mode such as thealbum mode. Step 54 enables interruption by means of turning off themain power. The flow is advanced to step S5.

[0181] In step S5, the operation in the television mode is performed.Information stored in the digital camera 6 is displayed on the monitor 2for predetermined time (e.g. 5 seconds), superimposed on the currenttelevision image. The information of the digital camera 6 displayed onthe monitor 2 is as follows: for example, whether or not the digitalcamera is placed on the docking station 5; a state that digital stillimage is being transferred from the digital camera to the image storage4; or a state that the digital camera 6 is being recharged.

[0182]FIG. 18 is an exemplary basic flow chart showing operation in thealbum mode. When an album mode button 3 b of remote controller 3, shownin FIG. 16, is pressed, mode change interruption is performed in step S6in FIG. 18. In step S7, it is determined whether mode change is thealbum mode in step S7. If mode change is the album mode, the flow isadvanced to step S8. If mode change is not the album mode, the flow isadvanced to a flow in another mode.

[0183] In step S8, the operation that enables the mode changeinterruption is performed. The mode change interruption is necessary forchanging mode from the album mode to another mode, In step S9, operationthat enables main-power-off interruption is performed. Themain-power-off interruption is necessary for turning off main power.

[0184] In step S10, it is determined whether the image storage 4 is onstandby after receiving very small current. When it is determined thatthe image storage 4 is on standby, the flow is advanced to step S11. Instep S11, it is instructed that the power source of the image storage 4is turned on, and the image storage 4 starts up. In step 12, theoperation that enables data read out completion interruption isperformed. The data read out completion interruption is necessary forreading out data.

[0185] On the other hand, in step S10, when it is determined that theimage storage 4 is not on standby, the flow is advanced to step S13. Instep S13, a message “Turn on the image storage 4” is indicated, and theflow is advanced to step S14. In step S14, it is determined whetherprint information is included or not. When the image storage 4 is turnedon, the flow is advanced to step S15. In step S15, the message “Turn onthe image storage 4” is closed, and the flow advances to step S12.

[0186] The above embodiment may be modified to an alternative embodimentin which the CPU 1 h of the main body 1 transmits a control signal tothe image storage 4 for turning on the same when the main power of themain body 1 is turned on.

[0187] In step S16, in order to avoid the state of no sounds in thealbum mode, background music starts, resulting in natural feeling.

[0188] The background music number is arbitrarily selected from musicnumbers that have been already selected. Instead of using the backgroundmusic, it is possible to use television sound directly. It is alsopossible to perform the album mode in a state without sound, that is,completely in no sound state. Each of these states is arbitrarilyselectable.

[0189] In step S171, it is determined whether an image is stored in theframe memory 4 m or not. The image is stored in the frame memory 4 m instep S87 in FIG. 28. If the images are stored, the flow is advanced tostep S172, if not, the flow is advanced to step S174.

[0190] In step S172, the image stored in the frame memory 4 m in stepS87 in FIG. 28 is read out, and is displayed on the monitor 2. The imagestored in the frame memory 4 m, which is a semiconductor memory, is readout instantly and displayed. Accordingly, the period between the timewhen mode is changed to the album mode and the time when the image isdisplayed on the monitor 2 can be made very small, so that an operatorcan view the image comfortably.

[0191] In step S173, instruction is transmitted to the memory driver 4n, and the memory 4 f starts, and the flow is advanced to step S18.

[0192] When it is determined that the image is not stored in the framememory 4 m, in above-mentioned step S171, a menu image of the albummode, which is stored in ROM in advance, is read out and displayed instep S174. The ROM, which is located in the CPU 4 e in the image storage4, is a semiconductor memory. The menu image stored in ROM can be readout instantly and displayed.

[0193] In step S175, the memory 4 f is driven after instruction istransmitted to the memory driver 4 n. In step S176, a regenerativeprogram for image and sound is activated and the flow is advanced tostep S17.

[0194] In step S17, the first image in the latest folder that is storedinto the image storage 4 is reproduced, and is displayed on the screenof the main body 1. That is, the image selected according to apredetermined rule is reproduced by the image storage 4 and displayedautomatically, in response to change from the current mode to the albummode.

[0195] With regard to the image selected according to the predeterminedrule, in stead of using the first image in the latest folder, forexample, the image of the latest date of photograph that is capturedinto the image storage 4 may be used. Thus, the album mode is startedup, and then the flow is advanced to the album mode operation in stepS18.

[0196] Furthermore, in step S174, in stead of above-mentioned operation,it is possible to continue to display in the television mode, and tochange to the album mode after reproduction of the image in step S17.

[0197] By performing the flow in FIG. 19, it is possible to change thepresent mode to the album mode while the image storage 4 is taking theimages from the digital camera 6. It is also possible to mount thedigital camera 6 on the docking station 5 in order to take the imagesfrom the digital camera 6 into the image storage 4 while main body 1 isbeing used in the album mode.

[0198] When image acquisition from the digital camera 6 to the imagestorage 4 is completed before a mode is changed to the album mode, theflow of FIG. 19 is not performed because the first image in the lastfolder is already displayed in step S17 in FIG. 18.

[0199] On the contrary, when image acquisition from the digital camera 6to the image storage 4 is completed after mode is changed to the albummode, interruption is performed in step S19 in FIG. 1. And the message“the last folder of image files is taken in” is indicated on the monitor2, being superimposed on the current picture. The indication is beingdisplayed until a counter measures a predetermined time, for example,about 7 seconds, and ends at step S22. In the album mode, theabove-mentioned operation works without exception. A user who watchesthe message can view a new image in the last folder by the operationdescribed later.

[0200]FIG. 20 shows exemplary details of the album mode operation instep S18 in FIG. 18. When the image is displayed in step S17 in FIG. 18responsive to the change to the album mode, the flow of the album modestarts at step S24, subsequent to which steps S25-S30 follow. In stepS25 to step S30, various interruptions are possible as described below,and the process becomes standby at step S31. The operation time from thepress of a channel button 3 c in FIG. 16 to step S31 in FIG. 20 isextremely short.

[0201] To advance the image displayed on the monitor 2, the “+” buttonor the “−” button of the channel button 3 c in FIG. 16 is operated. Theoperation of advancing the image displayed on the monitor 2 is shown inFIG. 21. When the image is displayed on the monitor 4, if the button 3 cis pressed, picture-advance interruption is performed in step S32 inFIG. 21 and the process advances to step S33. In step S33, it isdetermined whether or not pressing of the button 3 c is advancing thepicture. If the “+” button of the channel button 3 c, which is foradvancing a picture, is pressed, then it is determined that the pressingof the button 3 c is advancing the picture and the process advances tostep S34. In step S34, and it is determined whether or not the lastpicture before pressing the “+” button is the last picture in thefolder. If the last picture before pressing the “+” button is not thelast picture in the folder, then the process advances to step S35. Afterone picture is advanced in step S35, the process advances to step S36and returns.

[0202] If the last picture before pressing the “+” button is the lastpicture in the folder in step S34, then the process advances to step S36because there is not any picture to advance, and returns in step S36.Accordingly, when the picture is the last picture in the folder, if the“+” button is pressed, any operation does not occur.

[0203] In step S33, if the “−” button of the channel button 3 c ispressed, then it is determined that the pressing of the button 3 c isnot advancing the picture, and that the pressing of the button 3 c isreturning back the picture, and the process advances to step S37.

[0204] In step S37, it is determine whether or not the last picturebefore pressing the channel button 3 c is the first picture in thefolder. If it is determine that the last picture before pressing thechannel button 3 c is not the first picture in the folder, then onepicture is returned back in step S38 and the process returns in stepS36. If the last picture before pressing the channel button 3 c is thefirst picture in the folder, the process advances to step S36 because itis not necessary to return back the picture any more, and returns.Accordingly, when the last picture before pressing the channel button 3c is the first picture in the folder, if the “−” button is pressed, thenany operation does not occur.

[0205] Although it is considered that the first picture and the lastpicture in the folder are in the same folder, it is possible to makethem to be the first picture and the last picture in all pictures in theimage storage 4. In this case, when the first picture in the last folderis displayed on the monitor 2, if the “−” button of the channel button 3c is pressed, the last picture in the folder previous to the last folderis displayed.

[0206] If pressing the “−” button of the channel button 3 c is repeated,the first picture in the first folder of the image storage 4 appears onthe monitor 2. Thus, even if the user does not know an operation forchanging hierarchy as described later, the user can view all pictures inthe image storage 4.

[0207]FIG. 22 shows various kind of indication displayed on monitor 2.G1 and G2 are pictures that are displayed on monitor 2. When the pictureG1 is displayed on the monitor 2, if the “+” button of the channelbutton 3 c is pressed, then the picture G2 that is the next picture ofthe picture G1 is displayed. When the picture G2 is displayed on themonitor 2, if the “−” button of the channel button 3 c is pressed, thenthe picture G1 that is the previous picture of the picture G2 isdisplayed.

[0208] S1 shows nine small size pictures that are displayed in the ninedividend areas on the monitor 2, and S2 shows five small size picturesthat are displayed in the nine dividend areas on the monitor 2. S1 andS2 correspond to thumbnail pictures of the digital camera, and here, 14pictures in total are shown in S1 and S2.

[0209] F1 shows seven small size sequential indications that aredisplayed in the nine dividend areas on the monitor 2. Each indicationof F1 has a small picture and textual information of a folder thatcontains the folder name, date, and the contents of the folder. In thiscase, there are seven folders.

[0210] Y1 or Y2 shows nine small size sequential indications that aredisplayed in the nine dividend areas on the monitor 2. Each indicationof Y1 and Y2 shows one of 18 calendar years.

[0211] The image storage 4 controls to display each indication of“thumbnails”, “folders” and “calendar years” in each of the ninedividend areas on the monitor 2. When a total number of indications isnine or less than nine, all indications are displayed simultaneously atone time. However a total number of indications is more than nine, theimage storage controls to display one different indication representingthe nine indications. Accordingly, if there are more than nine folders,a plural of different indications, each of which represents ninefolders, are created and displayed in nine areas on the monitor 4 asdescribed above. Since these pictures, thumbnails, folders and calendaryears are configured as a hierarchy configuration (hereafter, pictures,thumbnails, folders and calendar years are called “hierarchy”).

[0212]FIG. 23 is an exemplary flow chart that shows the operation ofhierarchy change. Referring to FIG. 23, to change the hierarchydisplayed on the monitor 2 in the album mode, the “+” button or the “ ”button of a volume button 3 d is pressed.

[0213] When the indication is displayed on the monitor 2, if the volumebutton 3 d is operated, hierarchy change interruption is performed instep S39. When the “+” button of the volume button 3 d is pressed, it isdetermined that a transfer to the upper hierarchy is instructed in stepS40, and the process advances to step S41. In step S41, it is determinedwhether or not the displayed hierarchy before the volume button 3 d ispressed is the calendar year. If the displayed hierarchy is not thecalendar year, then the process advances to step 542. In step S42, onehierarchy is stepped up, and the process advances to step S43 andreturns.

[0214] For example in FIG. 22, when the picture G1 is displayed, if the“+” button of the volume button 3 d is pressed, then the thumbnail S1 isdisplayed instead of the picture G1. In this case, the small picture G1is placed in the upper left corner of the screen, and small picture G2is placed on the right of the G1. Other seven pictures are arrangedaccording to this order, and the ninth picture is arranged in the lowerright corner of the screen. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange theG1 picture in the center of the screen.

[0215] In step S41, if it is determined that the displayed hierarchy isthe calendar year, then, even if the “+” button of the volume button 3 dis pressed, nothing happens because the calendar year is the highesthierarchy and there is no hierarchy ahead of the calendar year.

[0216] In step S40, if the “ ” button of the volume button 3 d ispressed, then it is determined that a transfer to the upper hierarchy isnot instructed, and the process advances to step S44. In step S44, it isdetermined whether or not the displayed hierarchy before the volumebutton 3 d is pressed is the picture. If the displayed hierarchy beforethe volume button 3 d is pressed is not the picture, then the processadvances to step S45. In step S45, one hierarchy is stepped down, andthe process advances to step S43 and returns. For example in FIG. 22,the hierarchy transfers to the thumbnail (S1) from the folder (F1). Inthis case, nine thumbnails of the thumbnail (S1) are contained in thehead of the folder that is located in the upper left corner of thescreen.

[0217] In step S44, if the displayed hierarchy before the volume button3 d is pressed is the picture, then even if the “ ” button of the volumebutton 3 d is pressed, nothing happens because the picture is the lowesthierarchy and there is no hierarchy under the picture. And in step S43,the process returns.

[0218]FIG. 24 is an exemplary flow chart that shows the operation ofStepping down of the hierarchy is also performed in the selective flowshown in FIG. 24, in stead of using the hierarchy change interruption.For example, when the thumbnail S1 is displayed, if a “2” numeral button3 e is pressed, a frame of the monitor 4 is changed to the picture G2,because the numeral buttons 3 e from “1” to “9” correspond to thepositions of nine dividend areas on the monitor 4, respectively. Bypressing one of the numeral buttons 3 e, the corresponding area on themonitor 4 is selected. In FIG. 22, the thumbnail of picture G1 islocated at the center of the upper row, and this position corresponds tothe “2” numeral button. These operations are described in detail in FIG.24.

[0219]FIG. 24 is an exemplary flow chart that shows the operation ofselection in which the calendar year Y2 is used as a clue to search apicture.

[0220] When the picture is searched, for example, in the year 1988, a“6” numeral button is pressed because the year 1988 is located at theright in the middle row of the calendar year index Y2. By pressing the“6” button, selection interruption starts in step S46. In step S47, itis determined whether or not the present hierarchy is the picture. If itis determined that the present hierarchy is the picture, then anyoperation is not performed, and the process advances to step S52 andreturns. That is, if what is displayed on the monitor 2 is the picture,there is no room for selection: press of any numeral button 3 e causesnothing.

[0221] Since the hierarchy is the calendar year, the process advances tostep S48 from step S47. In step S48, by pressing the “6” numeral button,all folders created in 1988 are selected and arranged in order accordingto the creation date.

[0222] In step S49, it is determined whether or not the hierarchy is thecalendar year, the folder or the thumbnail. In this case; since thehierarchy is the calendar year, the hierarchy is stepped down one stepin step S50 and becomes the hierarchy of the folder, thereby causing themonitor 2 to display the folder index F1. The first folder created in1988 is located in the upper left corner of the folder index F1, andother folders are arranged in order from the left to the right and fromthe top to the bottom of the screen according to the creation date. Instep S51, it is determined whether or not the present hierarchy thestepped down new hierarchy is the picture. In the case, since the newhierarchy is the folder, the process advances to step S52 and returns.

[0223] In steps from S53 to S56, operation that adds a process historyto each picture is performed. In step S51, it is determined whether ornot the stepped down hierarchy is the picture. If it is determined thatthe stepped down hierarchy is the picture, then the process advances tostep S53. In step S53, it is determined whether the mode is my-albummode, which is described in detail later.

[0224] If it is determined that the mode is not the my-album mode, thenthe process advances to step S54. In step S54, the date and time ofpicture selection is written in the header portion of the picture, andthe process advances to step S55. In step S55, a search history untilthe picture is displayed and other selection conditions are written inthe header portion of the picture. This information is used as clues tosearch the same picture later. For example, the same picture can besearched by the search condition of “the image viewed one week ago”.

[0225] In step S53, if it is determined that the mode is the my-albummode, then the process advances to step S56. In step S56, personalinformation, for example, a name of a person who searched the picturepreviously, is written in the header of the picture. This information isused as a clue to search the same picture. In step S49, if it isdetermined that the hierarchy is not any of the calendar year, thefolder or the thumbnail, then the hierarchy is considered to beirrelevant to the predetermined hierarchy, and selection processnecessary to select the thing is performed in step S57. For example,typical thing is the personal information in the my-album mode.

[0226]FIG. 25 is an exemplary flow chart that shows the operation ofmy-album mode. Pressing a menu button 3 f of the remote controller 3displays the nine dividend areas on the screen to which the numbers from“1” to “9” are attached. The nine numbers can be replaced with, forexample, personal names of a family by an adequate input device.

[0227] In step S56, my-album interruption starts by pressing the menubutton 3 f. In step S57, the numbers from “1” to “9” are attached to thenine areas on the screen. Each of the nine areas having the numbers from“1” to “9” is arranged at the same position as each of the numeralbuttons 3 e from “1” to “9,” respectively. In step S58, the flowreturns, and becomes a standby sate for operation of the numeral buttons3 e.

[0228] For example, when the operator is a father and is designated withthe number “1”, if the “1” of the numeral buttons 3 e is pressed, stepsfrom S46 to S49, step S57 and step S52 are executed in FIG. 24. Afterthat, if the picture is selected, then information on father is writtenin the header of the selected picture through step S51, step S53 andstep S56.

[0229]FIG. 26 is an exemplary flow chart that shows the operation ofretrieval. When a selection button 3 g of the remote controller 3 ispressed in FIG. 16, retrieval interruption starts in step S59 in FIG.26, and a retrieval conditions entry screen is displayed in step S60. Byoperating the selection button 3 g adequately, it is possible to changea retrieval category that is indicated in the retrieval conditions entryscreen in step S61. To input the retrieval condition such as the date,the numeral buttons 3 e is used in step S62.

[0230] When the retrieval conditions are determined, pressing aconclusion button 3 h advances the process from step S63 to step S64.Since steps from S61 to S63 are repeated every predetermined time whilestoring the last operation result, it is possible to repeat changes instep S61 and S62 as long as the conclusion button 3 h is not pressed.

[0231] In step S64 retrieving is performed and the resultant folder iscreated. In step S65 a retrieved result is displayed in a form such asthe thumbnail index S1 in FIG. 22. If more than nine images have beenretrieved or retrieve conditions contain the hierarchy, retrievedresults are separated adequately to a plural of folders, being displayedlike the folder index F1 in FIG. 22. In steps from S66 to S69,information for later retrieval is written in the headers of retrievedimages, and the process advances to step S70 and returns.

[0232]FIG. 27 is an exemplary flow chart that shows the operation ofprinting. In the case where an image is displayed on the monitor 2, whenthe user desires to print the image, pressing the conclusion button 3 hstarts print interruption in step S71 in FIG. 27. When the image is notdisplayed on the monitor 2, if the conclusion button 3 h is pressed, anyoperation is not performed, and the process advances to step S78 fromstep S72 and returns. When the image is displayed on the monitor 2, ifthe conclusion button 3 h is pressed, then the process advances to stepS73.

[0233] In steps from S73 to S75, information for later retrieval iswritten in the header of the image. In step S751, it is determinedwhether or not the header of the image has print information. If theheader of the image has not the print information, then the processadvances to step S76. In step S76, information to print is written inthe header of the image. In step S77, a message “printing has beenreceived” is superimposed on the screen of the monitor 2.

[0234] In step S751, if the header of the image has the printinformation, then the process advances to step S752. In step S752,information written in the header of the image is deleted. In step S753,the superimposed message “printing has been received” is deleted, andthe process advances to step S78 and returns. These steps from S751 toS753 are performed when a different image is retrieved. The execution ofprinting is performed all together when the album mode is finished.

[0235]FIG. 28 is an exemplary flow chart that shows the operation of analbum mode completion mode. The album mode finishes when a changeoperation to other mode is performed, or when the main power of theimage storage 4 is turned off carelessly. For example, when the albummode button 3 b is pressed to change to the television mode from thealbum mode, when a video-1 button 3 j is pressed to change to a video-1mode, or when the main power switch of the image storage 4 is operated,the mode change interruption starts in step S79 in FIG. 28.

[0236] In step S80 and step S81, the same processes as the processes instep S7 and step S8 in FIG. 18 are performed. In step S91, it isdetermined whether the album mode change flow is started by changing toother mode or by turning off the main power. If the album mode changeflow is started by changing to other mode, then the process advances tostep S82. In step S82, it is determined whether or not there is an imagehaving printing information. If it is determined that there is an imagehaving printing information, then a thumbnail index like S1 in FIG. 22is displayed in step S83.

[0237] Then, when the conclusion button 3 h of the remote controller 3is pressed, printing is performed and information that printing has beenperformed is written into the header of the image in step S85. In stepS86, changing to designated mode is performed. Since moving to step S86from step S85 is performed just after printing is instructed, realprinting action is performed in the background of other mode, forexample, during viewing TV program.

[0238] In step S82, if there is not any image having printinginformation, then the process advances to step S86. In step S84, if themenu button 3 f of the remote controller 3 is pressed instead of theconclusion button 3 h, then printing is held in step S90, and theprocess advances to step S86.

[0239] In step S90, information that printing is put on the shelf iswritten in the header of each image. After this time, a message thatprinting is not performed is indicated for the predetermined time atsuch a time when the power of the main body is turned on, or when themode is changed. This indication is repeated until printing of eachimage is performed, or the delete of printing is performed.

[0240] In step S87, a displayed image is stored in the frame memory 4 m.The reason why the displayed image is stored in the frame memory is toretain the same state of the album mode before being changed to othermode when the mode is changed back to the album mode again. After thisprocess, the printing action is performed in parallel in the backgroundof the designated mode.

[0241] In step S88, it is determined whether or not the predeterminedtime is past after the mode is changed to other mode. If it isdetermined that the predetermined time is past after the mode is changedto other mode, then the process advances to step S89. If thepredetermined time is not past, then measuring time is continued.

[0242] In step S89, to lower power consumption, the memory 4 f of theimage storage 4 is stopped and the mode is changed to a power savingmode. The reason why the power saving mode begins after the predeterminetime is as follows. If the mode is changed to other mode carelessly, themode may immediately return to the image storage mode. In this case, ifthe memory 4 f is halted every time, and driven again, it is notconvenient because it takes a considerable time to become the albummode. And it is not desirable that the memory 4 f is overdriven.

[0243] In the case where it is determined that the album mode changeflow is started by turning off the main power in step S91, the processadvances to step S92. In step S92, it is determined whether or not animage has print information. If the image has print information, thenprinting is held in step S93, and the process advances to step S94without executing printing.

[0244] In step S93, information on print holding is written in theheader of each image. On such a time when the power of the main body isturned on or the mode is changed, a message that there is an image notprinted is displayed for the predetermined time. This indication isrepeated until printing is executed or printing is deleted.

[0245] In step S92, if the image has not print information, then theprocess advances to step S94. In step S94, the mode is changed to thetelevision mode, and the process advances to step S95. In step S95, thepower of the image storage 4 is turned off after a completion proceduresuch as the halt of the memory 4 f of the image storage 4 is performed.

[0246] All functions of the printer 9, which includes the on-off switchof the power source, are controlled by the image storage 7. The CPU 1 hof the image storage 7 receives instructions, which controls the printer9, from the remote controller 3 through the main body 1, transmittingthe received instruction to the printer 9. The CPU 1 h refers a state ofthe image storage 7 and devices connected to the image storage 7,thereby permitting the instructed control, determining an output timingand executing the control.

[0247] Furthermore, the system has the following advantages. That is,the printer can be operated in consistent with an operation and a stateof another device. When the image storage 7 is operated, the imagestorage 7 does not need a special remote controller, but needs only theremote controller 3 that is common to other devices. Furthermore, thesystem is convenient to use, since the remote controller 3 alwayscontrols another device only through the main body 1, without referenceto the kind of the controlled device. Accordingly, since other devicesbesides the main body 1 do not receive a signal from the remotecontroller 3, the system does not have a limit that there must not be anobstacle between the signal receiving part of the device and the remotecontroller 3.

[0248] Second Embodiment.

[0249]FIG. 29 is an exemplary schematic view that shows the SecondEmbodiment of the present invention. FIG. 30 a block diagram that showsthe configuration of the Second Embodiment.

[0250] Referring to FIG. 29, a modem 10 for telecommunication and atelephone 11 are added to the configuration of the First Embodiment inFIG. 1, and an image storage 7 and the digital camera 8 in the SecondEmbodiment are different from the image storage 4 and the digital camera6 in the First Embodiment. Other devices besides these four devices inthe Second Embodiment are the same as the devices in the FirstEmbodiment. In the configuration of the Second Embodiment, although thetelephone 11 is connected to the image storage 7 through the modem 10,this connection is also possible in the configuration of the FirstEmbodiment in FIG. 1.

[0251] In the Second Embodiment of the present invention, an AC adapterthat feeds power to the digital camera 8 through a cable 8 a is built inthe image storage 7. The cable 8 a is a special standard cable,including a power supplying cable and a signal transmitting cable, whichconnects the digital camera 8 with the image storage 7. The imagestorage 7 in the Second Embodiment is for general-purpose use the sameas the image storage 4 in the First Embodiment. The cable 8 a for thedigital camera 8 is the only exclusive product in the Second Embodiment.Connecting the digital camera 8 with the image storage 7 by the cable 8a causes the digital camera 8 automatically to charge power and totransmit data.

[0252] Referring to FIG. 30, the digital camera 8 has a special standardterminal 8 c that is a combined terminal of a charging terminal and asignal terminal that is in conformity with the IEEE 1394. The signalterminal of the special standard terminal 8 c is connected to thecircuit system of the digital camera 6, and the charging terminal of thespecial standard terminal 8 c is connected to a rechargeable battery 6b. The cable 8 a, which is connected to the special standard terminal 8c, is a special standard cable that is a combined cable of the chargingcable 8 d and a signal cable 8 e that is in conformity with the IEEE1394.

[0253] The image storage 7 has a special standard terminal 7 i that is acombined terminal of a charging terminal and a signal terminal that isconformity with the IEEE 1394 standard. The charging terminal of thespecial standard terminal 7 i is connected to an AC adapter 7 j, and thesignal terminal of the special standard terminal 7 i is connected to aIEEE 1394 terminal 7 k.

[0254] As described above, the image storage 7 is a general-purposeproduct that may be used for various kinds of digital cameras. Theconsiderable amount of digital cameras, however, are driven by differentpower-supply voltages. Therefore, the AC adapter 7 j is constructed tobe able to select a plural of voltages. A CPU 7 e of the image storage 7detects information on the power-supply voltage of the digital camera 8through the terminal 8 c, the signal cable 8 e, terminal 7 i and theIEEE 1394 terminal 7 k. Then, the CPU 7 e controls the AC adapter 7 j tooutput a power-supply voltage suitable for the digital camera 8according to the detected information. Thus, by making only the terminal8 c adopt the special standard, it is possible to apply differentpower-supply voltages to digital cameras.

[0255] In the system as shown in FIG. 30, the IEEE 1394 terminal 7 m iscoupled with the printer 9. Although the modem 10 is omitted in FIG. 30,it is really possible to add the modem 10 to the system in FIG. 30.Explanations of other things besides the modem 10 in FIG. 30 are omittedbecause they are the same as in FIG. 2.

[0256] According to the Second Embodiment of the present invention, whentransmitting and storing the entire image data in one holder into theimage storage 7 is completed, all thumbnails contained in this holderare displayed on a monitor 2. An arbitrary thumbnail in the holder isselected as the thumbnail representing the folder, and the folder's nameis assigned to the selected thumbnail. The first image of the folder is,usually, selected as the representative image. Display of thumbnails andselection of the representative image may be made independent oftransmitting and storing image data from the digital camera 6 to theimage storage 7, and may be performed after completion of thetransmitting and storing.

[0257] The remote controller 3 as shown in FIG. 31 has a menu button 45,and a selection button 46 that is used to search a folder or an imagefrom the image storage 7. Since the menu button 45 and the selectionbutton 46 are not comprised in the First Embodiment, the remotecontroller 3 in the Second Embodiment is not the same as the remotecontroller 3 in the First Embodiment. The remote controller 3 in theSecond Embodiment is used to select a menu displayed on the monitor 2and to perform the menu. The remote controller 3, as a matter of course,is also used for viewing TV programs. The operation buttons of theremote controller 3, therefore, are used for selecting and performingthe menu, and viewing TV programs.

[0258] Selecting Mode.

[0259] By turning on the main switch, a main body 1 of the presentembodiment starts in the television mode in the Second Embodiment aswell as in the First Embodiment, and mode selection interruption isenabled. Then, TV mode processing is performed and it becomes possibleto receive TV program. When the menu button 45 (FIG. 31) of the remotecontroller 3 is pressed, the mode selection interruption is performed inthe main body 1.

[0260]FIG. 32 is an exemplary flow chart that shows the operation ofmode selection processing. The CPU 1 h of the main body 1 performs themode selection processing. By pressing the selection button 45, the“Mode Selection” page at page 50 as shown in FIG. 33 is superimposed onthe TV program image on the monitor 2 (S301). The displayed “ModeSelection ” page 50 includes a TV operating menu 51 in addition to amode selection menu 52. The TV operating menu 51 is a menu for normaloperation of the main body 1 on view of a TV program, and a selecteditem in the TV operating menu 51 is processed in the main body 1. A partof the menu such as quality control is also usable in the album mode.

[0261] The mode selection menu 52 contains three option items, “AlbumMode”, “Print Mode” and “Return to Television Mode”. The “Album Mode”and the “Print Mode” are used for operating the image storage 7.Selecting these two option items makes the image storage 7, whichcommunicates with the printer 9, execute the process of the “AlbumMode”, the “Print Mode”, or the on-off of the power source.

[0262] When the user selects an item in the mode selection menu, theuser can select a desired item by pressing a conclusion button 47, afterplacing a cursor 53 on a desired item by operating the conclusion button47.

[0263] In step S302, it is determined that the selected item is whichitem of three items. If the selected item is the “Return To Television”,then the process advances to the process of the television modeprocessing in step S303. If the selected mode is the album mode or printmode, then the process advances to step S304. In step S304, the power ofthe image storage 7 is set on, and process advances to step S305.

[0264] In step S305, it is determined whether the selective mode is theprint mode or the album mode. If the selective mode is the album mode,then the process advances to the album mode process in step S306. If theselective mode is the print mode, then the process advances to stepS307. In step S307, the power of the printer 9 is turned on and theprocess advances to step S308. In step S304 or S307, if the power of theimage storage 7 or the printer 9 has been turned on, nothing isperformed therein and the process advances to the next process.

[0265]FIG. 34 is an exemplary flow chart that shows the operation of thealbum mode (i.e., the operation of the image storage 7).

[0266] Selecting the “Album Mode” in the “Mode Selection” page as shownin FIG. 33 makes the CPU 7 e of the image storage 7 transmit a signal tothe CPU 1 h of the main body 1. Then, the CPU 1 h changes an image onthe monitor 2 from a TV frame screen to an image stored in the imagestorage 7. The CPU 4 e transmits the data of information on all foldersstored in a memory 7 f of the image storage 7 to a frame memory 106, andmakes the monitor 2 display the information on all folders on the page“Information on All Folders”, as shown in FIG. 35. The page “Informationon All Folders” includes the thumbnails of the representative images, alisting of information on all folders, search option items, the “PrintMode” button, and the “Return to Television Mode” button.

[0267] The thumbnail 30 of the representative image of folder isarranged in order of the folder number that is assigned to each folderas shown in FIG. 35. Since the user can select the desired folder afteridentifying the thumbnail of the representative image, he can surelyselect the desired folder.

[0268] The page “Information on All Folders”, which is used in the albummode, has the button of “Return to the Television Mode”. Whenever theuser desires to view a TV program, he can return to the TV frame screenby pressing the button of “Return to the Television Mode”.

[0269] The listing of information on all folders displayed on themonitor 2 are arranged in decreasing order of the date of photography,regardless of when folders are created, that is, regardless of whetherfolders are created at the time of shooting or at the time of storinginformation in a memory 47. The desired folder can be selected bypressing the selection button 46 of which number is same as the foldernumber and determined by pressing the conclusion button 47 (S205).

[0270] The listing of information on all folders displayed on themonitor 2 also includes condition for sort. The condition for sort canbe determined by pressing the conclusion button 47 after the targetfolder is selected by pressing the selection button 46 of the remotecontroller 3.

[0271] By the above-mentioned selecting operation, the representativeimage corresponding to the selected desired folder is distinguished fromother images in a manner that the representative image is bordered, ordisplayed brightly.

[0272] Furthermore, the “Folder/Image Search” item in the page“Information on All Folders” can search an image or a folder asnecessary from the data of images or folders stored in the image storage7. To search images using the “Folder/Image Search” item in the page“Information on All Folders”, the number “0” is selected by using achannel button 43 (S202).

[0273] When the desired folder is determined in step S205 or step S202,compressed image data stored in the selected folder is read in the framememory 4 m and converted to analog data. The converted analog data isdisplayed as an image containing nine small images, on the screen of themonitor 2 (S207). FIG. 36 is an explanatory drawing that shows thedisplayed page “Images in a folder” in step S207.

[0274] The page “Images in a folder” in FIG. 36 is opened from the page“Information on All Folders” in FIG. 35 using the remote controller 3 asfollows. The remote controller 3 has numeral buttons to select TVprograms. The numeral buttons 48 of the most widely used remotecontroller has the arrangement of 4×3 as shown in FIG. 31. In theembodiments of the present invention, nine numeral buttons from 1 to 9are used.

[0275] When the image storage 7 displays the thumbnails on the monitor2, the thumbnails are placed in the same arrangement as that of thenumeral buttons 48. A thumbnail is selected by pressing the numeralbutton located at the same position as the target thumbnail.

[0276] Each image in a folder, which is designated as a target imagethat is read out from the data stored in the image storage 7, has aseries of number. This number is displayed together with each thumbnail.If the operator selects a thumbnail image, which is not displayed on themonitor 2, by designating the number of the thumbnail with the channelbutton 43, the thumbnail image can be displayed jumping to thecorresponding folder.

[0277] In the present embodiment, although the remote controller hastwelve numeral buttons, the present invention is not limited to theremote controller having twelve numeral buttons. In the future, it isexpected that the number of selectable TV channel will increase becauseof the tendency that multi-channel TV broadcasting is widening.Therefore, selecting images by the remote controller for multi-channelTV is effective in selecting stored images.

[0278] In step S202 in FIG. 34, if it is determined that “Folder/ImageSearch” is selected, then the process advances to step S203 and searchcondition setting is performed. After the search condition setting,searching is performed in step S204 and the process advances to stepS207. The search condition setting in step S203 will be described laterin FIG. 37.

[0279] Then, the operation of selecting one of images displayed on themonitor 2, as shown in FIG. 36, and viewing the image will be explainedherein later.

[0280] In step S208, the desired thumbnail is selected from thumbnailsdisplayed in step S207. The desired thumbnail is selected by using theselection button 46 of the remote controller 3 and determined bypressing the conclusion button 47. Then process advances to step S209.In step S209, the image data corresponding to the determined thumbnailis read out from the memory 7 f and stored in a frame memory 7 m. Instep 210, the selected image is displayed after the image data isconverted to analog data. In step S207, if the desired thumbnail is notfound in the first frame screen, which includes nine thumbnails, thenext frame screen is displayed by using a volume button 42 (S211). Thus,the desired image is read out from the memory 7 f and it is possible toview the desired image on the monitor 2.

[0281] In step S211, if it is determined that the viewed image isprinted, then printing the image is selected by pressing the “PrintMode” button displayed on the frame screen, using the selection button46 of the remote controller 3, and determined by pressing the conclusionbutton 47.

[0282] Although it is described that the printer 9 is powered on whenthe print mode is selected referring to FIG. 32, the printer 9 may bepowered on if the power of the printer 9 is off when printing isinstructed in step S211, as shown in step S211 to S213 in FIG. 34.Alternatively, the above-mentioned printing instruction is also used asa signal that makes the printer be powered on.

[0283]FIG. 37 is an exemplary flow chart that shows the operation of thesearch condition setting process. FIG. 38 is an explanatory drawingshowing the page of the search condition setting menu displayed on themonitor 2 in step S202.

[0284] The search conditions, specifically, include a frame number thatis automatically attached to the image at the time of photography, thetext data that the user inputs, such as the date and time ofphotography, the title of the image, the date of battery charge andmemos.

[0285] The input data such as the title or user's name shown in figuresof the present embodiment are used as a folder name, being recorded on arecording medium of the camera at the time of photography. This samefolder name is also used in the memory 7 f. The search condition itemsinclude the folder number in the memory 7 f, the date of battery charge,the date of photography, photographer's name, title and memos in thepresent embodiment.

[0286] In step S221, it is determined whether or not the searchconditions created in the past are read out from the memory 7 f anddisplayed on the monitor 4. This process, for example, is like theconventional work to take out the photographic album that was arrangedin the past. Two alternative operations are selected in step S221. If itis determined that the search conditions created in the past are notread out from the memory 7 f and displayed on the monitor 4, then thefirst operation is performed, advancing to the step S221 to S227. In thefirst operation, the user can select one among preassigned option itemsby using the selection button 46 and determine the values with theconclusion button 47 of the remote controller 3. If it is determinedthat the search conditions created in the past are read out from thememory 7 f and displayed on the monitor 2, then the second operation isperformed, advancing to step S222, the process of reading out the searchcondition. The second one is to select the “Reading Out” option item inthe “Album” item in the “Search Condition Setting” page, and todetermine the album name with the conclusion button 47.

[0287] In the first operation, one of the option items in each searchcondition item that are preassigned is selected, or adequate words areinput according to instructions instructed in the “Search ConditionSetting” page. In step S223, it is determined whether or notphotographer's name is selected. If it is determined that thephotographer's name is selected, then the process advances to step S229and the selected photographer's name is indicated. In FIG. 38,preassigned photographer's name includes “TARO”, “HANAKO”, and “ICHIRO”as the option items, who are members of a family, and “HANAKO” isselected as the photographer. The option item is described later in theprocess of entering and saving conditions in step S232.

[0288] In step S224, it is determined whether or not the range of thedate of photography is selected. If it is determined that the range ofthe date of photography is selected, then the process advances to stepS225 and the range of the date of photography is input therein, and theprocess advances to step S229. In step S226, it is determined whether ornot the title is selected, in the same manner that is performed in stepS223. The preassigned title can use the folder name created at the timeof shooting, as its own name. If it is determined that the preassignedtitle is selected, then the process advances to step S229.

[0289] In step S227, it is determined whether or not the memos aresearched. The memo searching can search memos of text data that werecreated at the time of shooting or editing an album, with partial matchretrieval, over all folders. If it is determined that the memos aresearched, then the process advances to step S228 and keywords forretrieval are input therein. Inputting keywords is performed using acharacter code table, displayed on the monitor 2, by operating theselection button 46 and the conclusion button 47 of the remotecontroller 3. Inputting keywords may be also performed with a keyboard(not shown) or a pen-input device connected to the CPU of the imagestorage 7.

[0290] The second operation is performed in the process of reading outthe title of the album in step S222. In step S222, the title of thealbum created in the past, stored in the memory 7 f, is read out. FIG.39 is a flow chart that shows the operation of searching the title ofthe album. Referring to FIG. 39, the process starts from step S222 byselecting the “Read Out” option of the “Album” item in the “SearchCondition Setting” page shown in FIG. 38, using the selection button 46of the remote controller 3. In step S240, all search conditions storedin the folder of the titles of the album in the memory 7 f are read outand displayed as the listing on the screen. FIG. 40 is an explanatorydrawing that shows the page of “Listing of Album Titles”.

[0291] In this page of “Listing of Album Titles”, the title of the albumis searched in the same manner as performed in FIG. 35. In the flow ofFIG. 39, in step S242 to S243, the required title of the album is inputand searched. In step S246 to S247, a title of the album is selectedfrom the displayed listing by operating the selection button 46 and theconclusion button 47 of the remote controller 3. The resulting titles ofthe album are displayed in step S244.

[0292] In step S232 in FIG. 37, the process of saving and entering thesearch conditions such as the title of the album or the memo isperformed.

[0293]FIG. 41 is an exemplary flow chart that shows the operation ofsaving and entering the search conditions. This operation starts whenthe “Save” option item of the “Album” item in the “Search ConditionSetting” page shown in FIG. 38 is selected with the selection button 46and determined with the conclusion button 47 of the remote controller 3.

[0294] In step S250, it is determined whether the search condition itemsuch as the “Title” or the “Date of Photography” is added or deleted,and likewise, it is determined whether the option item in the searchcondition items is added or deleted. If it is determined that the searchcondition item or the option item is added or deleted, then the processadvances to step S251. If it is determined that the search conditionitem or the option item is not added or deleted, then the processadvances to step S257. In step S257, the operation of entering the titleof the album is performed, resulting in the title of the album stored inthe memory 7 f. The title of the album is created by pressing thechannel button 43 using the “Character Code Table” and determined bypressing the conclusion button 47, resulting in a file stored in thefolder of the title of the album in the memory 7 f.

[0295] Furthermore, in step S250, if it is determined that the searchcondition item or the option item is deleted or added, pressing theselection button 46 of the remote controller 3 determines it. Step 251through step 255 process deletion or addition of the search conditionitem or the option item. If there is not the item to delete, the processadvances to step 256 where the option item of the search condition itemis added.

[0296]FIG. 42 is an exemplary flow chart of operation of assigning anoption item of each search condition item in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention. The flowchart is performed when searchcondition items such as “Photographer,” “The Date of Photography,”“Title,” and “Memo” are assigned.

[0297] The flowchart is also performed when “Image ID” or “PhotographicCondition” is added as search condition. To add “Image ID” as a searchcondition, the number of option items is entered in step S260, and thesearch condition name “Image ID” is entered in step S263. In step S264,the option items of “Image ID” such as “99041501”, “99040403” and“98040203” are entered. The entering operation of the character such as“Image ID”, “99041501”, “99040403” and “98040203” is performed bypressing the channel button 43 of the remote controller 3, using“Character Code Table”, and determined by pressing the conclusion button47.

[0298] After the process of step S264 is performed, the number of searchcondition items and option items is entered, and the similar operationpreviously described is repeated, thereby search condition items beingentered.

[0299] Thus, the present invention does not need the special remotecontroller for image storage 7 because the remote controller 3 for atelevision set is widely used in homes and can activate the imagestorage 7. Furthermore, even a person that is clumsy at handling amachine can operate it easily because operating procedures are displayedon the monitor.

[0300] It is desirable to display a thumbnail of the image that issearched according to the search condition items that are entered by thepreviously mentioned operation, and to add the thumbnail as therepresentative image to the “Listing of Album Titles”, by adding a newstep, where an arbitrary thumbnail among searched images is selected andstored, to the flowchart shown in FIG. 41 between step 250 and S257,because the album desired to view can be surely selected.

[0301] When the “Print Mode” menu is selected in “Mode Selection” page50 shown in FIG. 33, the print mode process is performed. The print modeprocess is a process that outputs a desired print from the image storage7. Although one embodiment of print output process is shown in step S207to S212 in FIG. 34, the present embodiment having higher function willbe described as follows. The explanation of the system configuration isomitted because the present embodiment has the same systemconfiguration. The symbols used in the previous embodiment are also usedin the present embodiment.

[0302] (a) Memory Contents of the Image Storage.

[0303] All image data taken by the digital camera are transferred andstored in the memory 7 f of the image storage 7. Folder name, foldernumber, file name, or file number designated while being transferred andrecorded, or being succeeded by the data given while taking picture, isattached to image data stored in the memory 7 f. Each image datatransferred and stored in the image storage 7 includes comments, forexample, the date of photography or various memos attached while takingpicture.

[0304] A print instruction signal indicating that an image is to beprinted is attached to all image data while taking picture. The printinstruction signal can be erased by operating the digital camera.Accordingly, in image data stored in the image storage, image data withthe print instruction signal intermingle with image data without theprint instruction signal.

[0305] (b) Selection of Print Image.

[0306] A desired print is designated by attaching a print instructionsignal while taking picture with a digital camera, or by adding theprint instruction signal to a selected and displayed image obtained byalbum mode processing in the print mode. Further in the print mode, aprint condition for attaching comments to a print image or designatingtrimming may be set up, if necessary. Attaching comments, designatingtrimming, and adding, deleting and changing print instruction signal aredescribed later in detail.

[0307] Attaching comments, designating trimming and processing regardingsetting up print instruction signal may be performed in the album mode.

[0308] (c) Print.

[0309] Print mode will be described in detail by means of a flow chartshown in FIG. 43. The flow chart shows processing performed by the CPU 7e that is controller of the image storage 7.

[0310] When print mode starts, the image storage 7 displays print menu54 shown in FIG. 44 on the monitor 2 superimposing on a currentdisplaying image (S311). In FIG. 44, although it is described an examplethat when previous mode is the album mode, print menu is superimposed onthumbnail pictures, when previous mode is TV mode, it is superimposed onTV image.

[0311] Print menu 54 includes “successive print”, “package print” and“setting up print condition”. In step 312, processing flow is controlledin accordance with selected menu.

[0312] When successive print is selected, flow goes to S313, an image tobe printed is selected by album mode function described before, theimage is displayed on the monitor 2, and, at the same time, a menuindicating start printing is superimposed on it (S314). Here, it ispossible to perform interruption processing to displayed image such asdesignating trimming (S315), attaching comments (S316), or setting upprint condition (S317), if necessary. Each interruption processing willbe described later. Above described steps S313 and S314 surrounded bydotted line are album mode function described before. Print starts bypushing down the conclusion button 47 (S318), displayed image on themonitor 2 is printed (S319), the next image is selected (S320), and flowreturns to step S313.

[0313] When package print is selected in step S312, flow goes to stepS321, and a folder including an image to be printed is selected by albummode function. The folder is selected by folder name searched anddesignated, or by specific image searched. When searched image isincluded in a plurality of files, image control information for thesearched image is written temporarily in a folder automatically producedfor printing. When above mentioned folder is produced, the folder isselected for print. Meanwhile, thumbnail pictures or selected images aresuitably displayed by album mode function. Further, menu for startingpackage print is displayed in superimposing manner, flow goes to stepS322 by pressing the conclusion button 47, and package print starts.

[0314] In package print, all images attached with print instructionsignal in the selected folder are printed sequentially with thedesignated number of print. In step S323, processing flow is controlledin accordance with a mode (previous mode) selected by pushing theselection button 45 of the remote controller 3.

[0315] When previous mode is TV mode, flow goes to step S331, and TVmode processing is performed. That is, ordinary TV processing isperformed and, at the same time, printing is continued in hidden mode(S332). Then, a signal indicating progress of printing (remaining numberof print) or finished printing is displayed on the monitor 2 byinterruption (S333). Then, flow goes back to step S311 continuing TVmode processing.

[0316] When previous mode is the album mode, flow goes to step S324, andan image under printing is displayed. At a same time, progress ofprinting is displayed in superimposing manner (S325). When all printinghas been completed (S326), “package print completed” is displayed(S327), and the processing is terminated.

[0317] Or, in step S324, only images attached with print instructionsignal in selected folder are displayed in thumbnail pictures, andprogress of printing S325 may be displayed by finished displayingthumbnail picture that is finished printing.

[0318] When setting up print condition is selected in step S312, flowgoes to step S341, menu for setting up print condition shown in FIG. 45is displayed on the monitor 2 in superimposing manner. Print conditionsuch as print image quality, a kind of printing paper, the number ofprint, need to output comment or not, setting up comment, is input andset up by suitably selecting menu. Then, flow goes back to step S311,and print menu is displayed again for further selection. After this,package print is performed under settled print condition. Successiveprint also performed under settled print condition unless differentcondition is set in step S317. Although the interruption processing ofS317 for setting up print condition is similar to S341, various printcondition set in this step is only effective in next print, and printcondition is returned to previous setting after finished printing. Bythe way, a condition thought to be most general is being set to eachitem by default.

[0319] (d) TV Mode Processing.

[0320] TV mode processing in step S331 is a similar processing to thatin step S303, which makes it possible to watch TV while performingpackage print. This processing is performed by the CPU 1 h of the mainbody 1. TV mode processing is described below with the help of flowchart shown in FIG. 46.

[0321] When TV mode processing starts, the main body 1 receives ordinaryTV broadcasting in step S351, and, in step S353, judges whether aninterruption signal S352, which indicates progress in printing orfinished printing from the CPU 7 e of aforementioned the image storage 7shown as S333 in FIG. 43, is happened or not. When the interruptionsignal S352 is not happened, flow goes to step S355. When theinterruption signal S352 is happened, flow goes to step S354, andprogress in printing or finished printing received from the CPU 7 e ofthe image storage 7 is displayed on the monitor 2 in superimposingmanner for predetermined time, and, then, flow goes to step S355. Instep S355, the CPU 1 h detects whether power supply to the main body 1is turned off or not. When power supply is not turned off, flow goesback to step S351, and TV broadcasting is continued receiving.

[0322] When it is detected in step S355 that power supply to the mainbody 1 is turned off, flow goes to step S356, and whether package printis going on in hidden mode or not is detected. When package print is notgoing on, flow goes to step S360, power supply to the main body 1, theimage storage 7, and the printer 9 is turned off, and, then, processingis terminated. When package print is going on, flow goes to step S357,and power supply to the TV receiver circuit of the main body 1 and themonitor 2 is turned off. Since power supply to the image storage 7 andthe printer 9 is not turned off, package print is continued untilfinished printing is detected in step S358, and signal of progress inprinting or finished printing is transmitted to the main body 1 forinterruption. When finished printing signal is detected in step S358,flow goes to step S359, power supply to the image storage 7 and theprinter 9 is turned off, power supply to the rest of the main body 1 isturned off, and, then, processing is terminated.

[0323] By the way, it may be possible to construct such that processingon and after step S356 is mainly performed by the CPU of the imagestorage 7 to perform same effect as described above by outputtingrequired signal to the main body 1 or the printer if necessary.

[0324] When power supply to the TV receiver circuit of the main body 1is turned off in step S357, the main body 1 records that the processingafter step S357 has been performed. When power supply to the main body 1is turned on next time, a comment that print exists in the printer isdisplayed. At that time, whether the printer 9 is working or stopping(including power off) is detected. It is desirable to display progressin printing when working, or display “finished printing” when stopping.

[0325] Further, the printer may produce electric or acoustic noiseduring operation, which is liable to disturb watching TV. Therefore, itmay be constructed such that when TV mode is started, printing isinterrupted and only receiving TV broadcasting is performed in order tobe able to watch TV without difficulty, and when power supply to themain body 1 is turned off, or when other than TV mode is selected, TVmode processing is restarted.

[0326] In addition, the CPU 1 h of the main body 1 may be modified totransmit a control signal to the image storage 4 for making itinoperative when the main body 1 is changed into TV mode.

[0327] (e) Processing for Print Instruction Signal.

[0328] Selection or designation of image to be printed can be performedby the digital camera as well as by the album mode. That is, imageselection in the album mode (S313) and folder selection in the albummode (S321) shown in FIG. 32 include function for selecting image to beprinted.

[0329] For example, when thumbnail pictures within a scope of desiredimage data, for example, images in specific folder or images designatedby date of photography designated in image selection function forwatching are displayed (as shown in FIG. 36), print selection mark P1(32 in FIG. 36) is displayed simultaneously with the right side of theimage (31 in FIG. 36) on which print instruction signal has already beenattached by the digital camera. Print selection mark is not attached tothe image (33 in FIG. 36) on which print instruction signal is notattached.

[0330] As described above, since print instruction signal isautomatically attached when taking picture, print instruction signal isattached to the image read in from the digital camera unless printinstruction signal is deleted by operating the digital camera. Therebyoperation procedure for printing in print mode is simplified.

[0331] Print selection mark P1 is displayed simultaneously with any oneimage selected and displayed from thumbnail pictures by image selectionfunction. The number following the letter “P” of print selection markdenotes the number of prints to be printed. Print selection mark P1attached by the digital camera denotes one print.

[0332] The image storage 7 can attach, change or delete print selectionmark to an image displayed on thumbnail pictures by operating the remotecontroller 3 (in FIG. 31). Specifically, a target image is selected anddisplayed, and the number following the letter “P” can be increased ordecreased by pushing down up button 42A or down button 42B of the volumebutton 42 of the remote controller 3. In FIG. 36, print selection markP2 (35) changed by above-mentioned operation is displayed beside image34, which denotes that the number of pint is two. When the number ofprint is zero, print instruction signal is deleted and print selectionmark is disappeared. If the up button 42A is pushed down while printselection mark is not displayed, then print selection mark P1 appears.

[0333] (f) Trimming.

[0334] Trimming can be designated to an image displayed in the albummode by using zooming function. Zooming function is activated by pushingdown the channel button 43 while an image is displayed. Zooming up ordown is performed by pushing down “+” button 43A or “−”button 43B of thechannel button 43 respectively. The range of the zoomed image displayedon the monitor 2 becomes the range of printing. When the conclusionbutton 47 is pushed down while zoomed image is displayed, range oftrimming and magnification is added to the image data.

[0335] When the image with this information is displayed, a mark T (36in FIG. 36) indicating that trimming condition is recorded is displayedright side of the image. When images are displayed in due order bypushing the selection button 46, trimming image formed by trimmingcondition added to the image is displayed after the original image.Therefore, the same trimming image can be printed out in the future.Further, since forming the trimming image is started while displayingoriginal image, apparent time for displaying the trimming image can beshort. Since additional recording data to the memory 7 f of the imagestorage 7 for trimming is only trimming condition, data amount foradditional recording is small in comparison with recording trimmingimage.

[0336] (g) Output Comment.

[0337] In step S341 for setting up print condition, when comments A andB are set up and “request for outputting comment” is selected, commentattached to the image is printed outside the range of image as shown inFIG. 47. In this case, comment is displayed adjacent to the image in acomment display 62 arranged under an image display area 61 of the image60 displayed in the album mode. As for the comment, there are a commentA such as date of photography attached at the time of taking picture anda comment B added by using the remote controller 3 in the album mode.These comments A and B can be revised.

[0338] If comment A attached at the time of taking picture exists, thecomment is displayed in the comment display 62 of the image 60. Then, acursor is moved to the position for comment B, and additional comment Bcan be input at the position by using the remote controller 3. Displayedcomment can be revised in a overwrite manner by moving a cursor toarbitrary position of the displayed comment, and inputting revisedcomment.

[0339] Furthermore, since comment B added in step S341 for setting upprint condition is attached to all prints printed after the setting up,it is convenient to attach same comment. On the other hand, since acomment B attached in step of input print condition (S317) of successiveprint is effective only in the particular image, it is convenient toattach different comment to each image.

[0340] By the way, comment input function (S316) while setting up printcondition (S317) can be activated by operating comment input describedabove by using the numeral button 48 of the remote controller 3 whilewatching image.

[0341] Third Embodiment.

[0342]FIG. 48 is a perspective view of Third Embodiment of the presentinvention and the configuration of an image storage 4 is the same asthat of First Embodiment of FIG. 1. On the other hand, the digitalcamera 8 is the same as that of Second Embodiment of FIG. 29.

[0343] The characteristic of Third Embodiment of FIG. 48 is representedby a complex battery charger 12. A cable 12 b connecting complex batterycharger 12 and the image storage 4 is of the IEEE 1394 standard and issame as the cable 5 a of FIG. 1. On the other hand, a cable 12 cconnecting complex battery charger 12 and the digital camera 8 is adedicated standard cable that includes a power supply cable and a signaltransmission channel like the cable 8 a of FIG. 29. A cable 12 a forcommon power source is the same as the cable 5 a of FIG. 1. Since otherconfiguration of the present embodiment is quite similar to that ofFirst Embodiment of FIG. 1, the explanation is omitted.

[0344]FIG. 49 is an exemplary schematic diagram of the system design forThird Embodiment. In the complex battery charger 12, the cable 12 c thatincludes a recharge cable 12 d and a signal transmission channel 12 e inconformity with the IEEE 1394 combined in one is connected with aconnecting terminal 8 c. To cope with this, the complex battery charger12 has a connecting terminal 12 f in which a signal connector inconformity with the IEEE 1394 and a power supply connector are combinedin one. The power supply connector of the connecting terminal 12 f isconnected with an AC adapter 12 g and at the same time, the signalconnector is connected with an IEEE 1394 terminal 12 h. With the IEEE1394 terminal 12 h, the cable 12 b of the IEEE 1394 standard isconnected. A common power source is supplied to the AC adapter 12 g byway of the cable 12 a.

[0345] In Third Embodiment, complex battery charger 12 is the exclusiveaccessory for the digital camera 8 and the AC adapter 12 g supplies thespecific voltage with the digital camera 8. With a different digitalcamera 8, a different complex battery charger 12 with different voltageis to be supplied to cope with this. Thus, the image storage 4 can befor general-purpose use. The complex battery charger 12 does not needparticularly big cost increase since it is formed by only adding to anordinary battery charger IEEE 1394 terminal to connect with the imagestorage 4, and, preparing the connecting terminal combining the powersupply connector and the signal connector to connect the digital camera8, and, only wiring them.

[0346] Fourth Embodiment.

[0347]FIG. 50 is a perspective view of Fourth Embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, each function of First Embodiment of FIG.1 is integrated in one television set. To illustrate the detail of thatin relation with FIG. 1, the main body 1 and the monitor 2 are separatein First Embodiment, but in Fourth Embodiment of FIG. 50, they areconfigured as an ordinary television set. The main body 1 including atuner is housed in a case 13 together with a monitor 14. Other functionscorresponding to the image storage 4 in First Embodiment are alsoincorporated in the case 13.

[0348] Since in Fourth Embodiment, the main body 1 and functionscorresponding to the image storage 4 in First Embodiment are integratedin one as an ordinary television set, it is possible to memorize aprogram to control the main body 1 as well as image data in a largecapacity memory 4 f consisting of a hard disc for the image storage 4.

[0349] A storage space 15 is for a digital camera 18, and when a door 16is closed, the digital camera stored is shut tight and is madedust-proof. The storage space 15 is located at the place least affectedby the heat and the electromagnetic wave emitted form television set andwalls of the storage space may be made heat-resistant andanti-electromagnetic-wave structure as occasion demands.

[0350] A docking station 17 in FIG. 50 corresponds to the dockingstation 5 in FIG. 1 and is exclusively for the digital camera 18 and isinterchangeable in accordance with the type of the digital camera. Thedocking station 17 has standardized a power supply connector and asignal connector, and when it is fixed to the bottom of the storagespace 15, these connectors are connected with corresponding connectorsof the main body 1. The storage space 15 has enough space so as to copewith various types of cameras and docking stations, and only theconnector between the docking station and its arrangement isstandardized.

[0351] To illustrate the condition of use in Fourth Embodiment, thestate that the desired docking station 17 is fixed to the storage space15 is standby state, and the digital camera 18 is, for example, usedoutdoors. When coming back home, only opening the door 16 and storingthe digital camera 18 on the docking station 17 of the storage space 15that is the usual storing place, and closing the door 16 finishes thebasic procedure. In such using environment, first of all, there is nopossibility of losing the digital camera, since it is stored in thefixed storage place all the time. Charge of battery and take-in ofimages are made automatically during being stored and the memory isemptied out. Therefore, at the time of next use, it won't be necessaryto look for the camera and to worry about the power source and freememory space for picture taking. Besides, as pictures taken in the pastare surely stored in the image storage of television set, there is nopossibility of loosing negatives or prints, as in the case ofsilver-halide film camera. Required picture can be found without fail,by searching in the image storage with looking at the monitor 14. And,as the image storage is an electronic file, efficient searching methodcan be conducted.

[0352] In Fourth Embodiment of FIG. 50, printer function andcommunication function are also incorporated inside case 13. A modularjack 19 is for coping with communication inside television set and alsofor connecting to the telephone 11. The system also includes a printerpaper discharge slot 20 and the cover 21 for printer paper supply.Common power source is supplied by way of a cable 22 for all suchfunctions of television set.

[0353] Details of functions and operation in Fourth Embodiment of FIG.50 are basically the same as those in other Embodiments of the presentinvention, and they are operated by means of a remote controller.

[0354] In Fourth Embodiment, a card slot corresponding to the card slot4 s of First Embodiment is prepared in the position not seen in FIG. 50,digital still image can also be input from a card memory inserted inthis card slot, apart from by storing the digital camera 18.

[0355] Fifth Embodiment.

[0356] Another Fifth Embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed below.

[0357] Although an image storage and a printer are separate in FirstEmbodiment to Fourth Embodiment, they are combined in one in FifthEmbodiment. Other configurations are the same as those in otherEmbodiments.

[0358] As shown in FIG. 51(a), the printer 9 is formed as a separateunit from the image storage 7 and is mounted on the image storage 7. Inthe top cover of the image storage 7, alignment means as a hollow 7A isprovided for engaging with projected parts 9A arranged in the bottomplate of the printer 9 in order to mount the printer steadily. Signaltransmission means 7B and 9B such as a connector terminal and a photocoupler are provided in the top cover of the image storage 7 and bottomplate of the printer 9 to transmit image data and controlling signalsbetween the storage 7 and the printer 9. Therefore, as shown in FIG.51(b), print output can be ready if the printer 9 is just mounted on atthe fixed position of the image storage 7.

[0359] Installation space can be saved since the image storage 7 and theprinter 9 are integrated in one (vertically). As they can also beseparated, when either of them is out of order, that part only can berepaired or exchanged.

[0360] According to the present invention, still images taken by adigital camera can be searched, viewed and printed as easily as withconventional silver-halide picture album and television broadcast can bewatched as much as possible.

1. A digital image storage system comprising: a digital camera having amemory capable of storing digital images; an adapter on which thedigital camera is to be laid down for informing the adapter of thedigital images in the memory; and a data storage having a storage mediumthat stores the digital images informed through the adapter, wherein thedata storage includes a function unit that controls the digital imagestorage so that the informed digital images are stored in apredetermined folder prepared in the storage medium.
 2. The digitalimage storage system according to claim 1, wherein the function unit isdesigned to automatically prepare a subfolder within the predeterminedfolder in advance of the digital image storage and to store the informeddigital images in the subfolder.
 3. The digital image storage systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the function unit is further designed togive the subfolder a name relating to date when preparing the subfolder.4. A digital image storage system comprising: a digital camera having amemory capable of storing digital images; an adapter on which thedigital camera is to be laid down for informing the adapter of thedigital images in the memory; and a data storage having a storage mediumthat stores the digital images informed through the adapter, wherein thedata storage includes a function unit designed to automatically preparea folder in the storage medium in advance of the digital image storageand to store the informed digital images in the prepared folder.
 5. Thedigital image storage system according to claim 4, wherein the functionunit is further designed to give the folder a name relating to date whenpreparing the folder.
 6. A digital image storage capable of beinginformed of digital images from a digital camera through an adapter onwhich the digital camera is to be laid down comprising: a storage mediumthat stores the digital images informed through the adapter; and afunction unit that carries out a program to store the informed digitalimages in a predetermined folder prepared in the storage medium.
 7. Thedigital image storage according to claim 6, wherein a plurality offolders are prepared in the storage medium, and the function unit isdesigned to store the informed digital images in a predetermined one ofthe prepared folders.
 8. A digital image storage capable of beinginformed of digital images from a digital camera through an adapter onwhich the digital camera is to be laid down comprising: a storage mediumthat stores the digital images informed through the adapter; and afunction unit that carries out a program to automatically prepare afolder in the storage medium in advance of the digital image storage andto store the informed digital images in the prepared folder.
 9. Thedigital image storage according to claim 8, wherein the function unitincludes a detector that detects a signal from the adapter, and whereinthe function unit is designed to automatically prepare the folder inresponse to the signal.
 10. The digital image storage according to claim8, wherein the function unit includes a detector that detects a signalto cause the digital image storage, and wherein the function unit isdesigned to automatically prepare the folder in response to the signal.11. The digital image storage according to claim 8, wherein the functionunit is further designed to give the folder a name relating to date whenpreparing the folder.